Summary

Kyle Monangai was selected in Round 7 (#233 Overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of the Rutgers University. Monangai emerged as one of the most productive and reliable backs in the Big Ten, finishing his collegiate career with 3,000+ rushing yards, 25+ rushing touchdowns, and a career average near 5.0 yards per carry. Monangai earned All-Big Ten honors and was widely respected by opposing coaches for his physical running style, consistency, and durability. He built his résumé on volume carries, contact balance, and competitive toughness rather than explosive athletic traits. From a character and off-field standpoint, Monangai is regarded as a high-character, disciplined, team-first competitor—praised for work ethic, leadership, accountability, and willingness to carry a heavy workload without complaint. He is viewed as a culture-fit player who sets a tone through effort and physicality.

Strengths

• Bowling Ball of Butcher Knives: Finishes runs with authority and embraces contact. Effective in goal-line and third-and-short situations and executes designed runs cleanly without freelancing.

• Fire Hydrant: Stays upright through hits and uses his low center of gravity and compact frame to make it difficult to bring down with arm tackles. Runs behind his pads and generates push with leg drive.

• Avid Reader: Reads interior lanes well and is patient but decisive. Plays with edge and urgency while exhibiting a tone-setter mentality.

• Durability & Security: Proven ability to handle high carry volume over multiple seasons. Protects the football with an extremely strong fumble grade and considered a low-risk runner.

Weaknesses

• Not a Burner: Lacks breakaway speed and his explosive plays are more grind-based.

• Torpedo vs Heat Seeking: More linear than elusive with limited suddenness in space. Best when lanes are defined and less effective improvising.

• Receiving Ceiling: Functional hands but not a dynamic mismatch receiver. Limited experience on advanced routes beyond checkdowns.

• Pass Protection Technique: Willing but still developing recognition and anchor. Profiles more as a high-floor runner than a featured offensive weapon.

Outlook

Monangai fits the in Ben Johnson’s Bears scheme as a physical, north–south runner who complements an offense built around toughness, ball control, and situational efficiency. He is best suited for inside zone, duo, power, and gap concepts, where he can press the line, absorb contact, and consistently move the chains. In Chicago, Monangai would project as a rotation back with early-down and short-yardage value, capable of stabilizing the run game and reducing negative plays. Long-term, Monangai projects as a reliable RB2/RB3 with spot-starter capability, particularly valuable in cold-weather, physical games and late-season environments. While he may not develop into a high-volume receiving threat or explosive home-run hitter, his toughness, durability, and consistency give him a clear path to sustained NFL value. For the Bears, Monangai represents a culture and identity fit—a dependable runner who does the hard work, keeps the offense on schedule, and brings a physical edge to the backfield.