Surprising news dropped this week when a Minnesota Vikings insider revealed the team had made inroads to the Chicago Bears about a possible trade for Khalil Herbert. The Vikings have health issues at the position. Chicago hasn’t been using Herbert for weeks. It feels like he’s been phased out of the offense. GM Ryan Poles wasn’t impressed with their initial offer and the two sides couldn’t reach any common ground. As a result, Minnesota pivoted to a deal for Cam Akers from Houston.
While Herbert remains a Bear for the time being, there is still a strong belief he could be dealt somewhere before the November 5th deadline. It is most likely Poles wasn’t keen on handing him to a divisional foe. ESPN has a different team in mind, one whose need at running back might be even greater.
Cowboys move for a RB with intriguing tools
Bears get: 2025 sixth-round pick
Cowboys get: RB Khalil Herbert
Ezekiel Elliott has been mostly phased out of the rotation, leaving Rico Dowdle, who has generated minus-18 rush yards over expected (RYOE) in a relatively quiet start to the season.
There’s no Derrick Henry lurking as an immediately impactful back, but what about adding another set of fresh legs to compete with Dowdle? Herbert is probably not the sort of back to shoulder a workload of 20 carries per game, but among the 46 players with 300 carries or more between 2021 and 2023, his 4.9 yards-per-carry average ranks seventh.
He may not rescue their entire operation down there, but he at least gives them some proven legs with plenty of juice. Getting a 6th round pick back for him would essentially mean the Bears win because they spent a 6th to select him in 2021. Drafting a player, getting solid production from him for three years, and then trading him for the same level of value is great football business. Much of this depends on how the Bears feel about their overall depth.
D’Andre Swift has looked much better in recent weeks after an ugly start to the season. Roschon Johnson has become their go-to guy in short-yardage situations. Are the Bears comfortable with Travis Homer as the third back in case of an injury? That remains unknown. The reality is Khalil Herbert isn’t a good fit for this new offense. Shane Waldron prefers more inside-zone running. Herbert is at his best in outside-zone concepts. If Dallas does come forward with an offer, Poles should consider it.
