Heading into the season, the Chicago Bears have one of the weakest running back groups in the NFL, ranked 30th overall by Pro Football Focus. A major reason for that low ranking is D’Andre Swift’s disappointing 2024 campaign, where he averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry.
If Swift turns in another subpar year, it’s hard to imagine Chicago not targeting a speedy, dynamic back in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne’s a running back prospect worth targeting
One player who could fit that bill is Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne.
Last season, Claiborne earned third-team All-ACC honors as both a running back and an all-purpose player. He set a school record with 1,049 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while also catching 23 passes and averaging 25.1 yards on 12 kickoff returns.
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Let's go, @ClaiborneDemond 🎩 pic.twitter.com/4POfQOw62j
Claiborne’s most noticeable trait on film is his agility. He can cut on a dime, change direction effortlessly, and make tacklers miss in tight spaces. Combined with excellent vision, he consistently created plays with minimal running room, averaging 4.6 yards per carry in 2024.
As a receiver, Claiborne brings real value. He caught 76 percent of his targets last season, including three contested grabs, and dropped only two passes all year. Despite most of his catches coming within a couple of yards of the line of scrimmage, he averaged 11 yards per reception. His ability in the passing game would fit perfectly in Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s offense—an offense that, when Johnson was Detroit’s coordinator, saw both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery catch 35+ passes in a season.
Claiborne also adds special teams value. He totaled 277 kickoff return yards on just 12 attempts last year and has averaged 26.7 yards per return over the past two seasons, scoring a kickoff return touchdown in each. While Chicago has Devin Duvernay handling that role this year, he’s only on a one-year deal.
Right now, Claiborne carries a fifth-round grade on my board. His size at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds raises questions about whether he can be a true every-down back in the NFL. He also lacks the power of some bigger prospects in the 2026 class. However, paired with a more physical runner like Roschon Johnson or Kyle Monangai, he could thrive as the explosive half of a two-back rotation.
If Swift struggles again and the Bears look for a playmaker in the 2026 NFL Draft, Claiborne’s versatility, speed, and all-purpose production make him an intriguing mid-round target who could upgrade the offense immediately.