Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery has an infectious running style. His will and determination are on display with every carry. In many ways, he runs with the same mentality that Bears legend Walter Payton did during his Hall of Fame career.
"Never die easy," Payton said of playing running back ."Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It's okay to lose, to die, but don't die without trying, without giving it your best."
Montgomery will never reach the heights Payton did during his career, but his role in Chicago's offense in 2022 is critical. He'll be the Bears' bell cow. His ability to carve out chunk gains as a runner and receiver will assist quarterback Justin Fields in a crucial developmental season.
But Montgomery is playing for more than just team success in 2022. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. If he proves to general manager Ryan Poles that he can't easily replace his skill set, there's a chance he'll join an exclusive fraternity of running backs who earn lucrative second contracts with the team that drafted them.
David Montgomery's contract situation is complicated
Montgomery's looming contract situation isn't an easy one to resolve. Running backs have been devalued in recent years because of the rate of success rookies from the middle rounds of the NFL Draft enjoy. Diminishing returns teams receive from running backs who ink those second deals hurts too. Recent examples like Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys), Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers), and Todd Gurley (Los Angeles Rams) are cautionary tales that come to mind.
But Montgomery isn't tracking for a bank-breaking contract like those guys signed. Instead, he's in the same bucket of recent deals signed by players like Leonard Fournette and James Conner. They're returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals on three-year, $21 million deals.
Factors favoring a new contract for David Montgomery
A few factors are working in favor of Montgomery getting a new contract from Chicago. First, he'll turn 25 years old in June. It's the same age that Alvin Kamara (Saints), Dalvin Cook (Vikings), and Nick Chubb (Browns) signed their second deals. Montgomery is just now entering the sweet spot of a running back's career arc. He doesn't have a lot of carries on his resume, either; he'll begin his fourth season with only 714 carries in the league. He's young and has a lot of tread left on his tires.
Montgomery's largest workload came in 2020 when he totaled 247 carries for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 54 catches for 438 yards and two scores that year, too.
Second, the Bears are projected to have the most salary-cap space in the NFL next year, according to Spotrac. Poles will have the luxury of spending on a position that might not otherwise be a priority because of how much money he'll have at his disposal. Having money to spend doesn't mean it should be spent foolishly. Still, suppose Montgomery ascends to a leadership role in 2022 and produces like one of the 10-best running backs in the league. In that case, the extra salary-cap space will help ease any worry about overspending on a devalued position.
Factors working against David Montgomery getting a new deal
There are some factors working against a contract extension for Montgomery, too. Second-year running back Khalil Herbert proved in 2021 that he has the talent to be a quality NFL starter when he filled in while Montgomery rehabbed a knee injury. Herbert is an explosive one-cut runner who fits the Bears' new offense perfectly. Perhaps Chicago's coaching staff and front office will view Herbert's upside similarly to Montgomery's. And if that's the case, smart business dictates going with a player who will have two years remaining on his rookie contract.
Additionally, the Bears aren't a team that's a running back away from a Super Bowl berth. High-priced positions like offensive tackle and wide receiver could be big needs next offseason. Every dollar matters in those negotiations. Chicago may have no choice but to leverage all of their available salary-cap space on expensive positions while being cost-effective at running back with a player like Herbert or a mid-round rookie in the 2023 NFL draft.
David Montgomery will determine his own fate in Chicago
Ultimately, Montgomery is in control of his own destiny. The Bears are in the first phase of a sweeping rebuild. Leadership in the locker room, even if it comes from otherwise devalued positions, will be a priority. And if Montgomery is one of those leaders, his return in 2023 will be a priority too. If he sets career highs in rushing and receiving yards along the way, a second contract is a no-brainer.
If Montgomery continues down the leadership path he's on, stays healthy in 2022, and produces like one of the top all-around running backs in the NFC, it's a safe bet that he'll be back on a deal in the neighborhood of three-years, $25 million next offseason.