D’Andre Swift deal gives the Bears a new starting running back

The Chicago Bears opened free agency by landing a starting running back, agreeing to terms with D’Andre Swift, who is coming off a career year with the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a three-year deal worth a maximum of $24 million. A league source confirmed the agreement.

Swift, 25, was The Athletic’s 45th-ranked free agent.

It’s the second year in a row in which the Bears were aggressive from the start at a non-premium position. Last year, they came to terms with linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards in the opening hours of free agency. This year it’s Swift, who fills a need and improves the offense. This is the first time the Bears have poured significant resources into the backfield during general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure.

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How he fits

The Bears want to be a productive rushing attack, and Swift will step in as the No. 1 back. He also adds a receiving element, as someone who has averaged nearly 50 catches per season. Swift will replace D’Onta Foreman in the backfield as he joins Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson.

New Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron came from Seattle, where they had Kenneth Walker as the lead back followed by Zach Charbonnet. A dual-threat back like Swift gives Waldron another weapon for his scheme.

League sources at the combine expected the Bears to be involved in the running back market, with one noting how a top back could elevate the offense. A strong run game will also help a rookie quarterback greatly if that’s the direction the Bears go.

Swift made the Pro Bowl in 2023 with 1,049 rushing yards in Philadelphia. He had 214 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. He’s averaged 4.6 yards per carry in his career, showing the ability to be a back who can make explosive gains.

2024 impact

Herbert is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will, at best, be the No. 2 back behind Swift. In Seattle, the No. 2 back still had 100 carries, so he should still be a part of the offense. Johnson will likely be the No. 3 back, a role he played often last year, and he has the skill set to be a third-down back as well as someone who can churn the clock in the four-minute offense. Johnson and Herbert also have plenty of special teams value.

History

Swift spent the first three seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions, who drafted him in the second round, so he should have some familiarity with the Bears. He wasn’t too productive in his two appearances at Soldier Field (2021 and 2022). He did have a rushing touchdown and a receiving TD and 117 yards offense in his last meeting, in Week 17 of 2022. He infamously failed to haul in a touchdown pass in the final seconds of the 2020 season opener, a Bears win.

Cap update

The contract might be lucrative for the position, but it isn’t exorbitant overall and fits fine for a Bears team that enters the new league year with a healthy amount of cap space — per Over the Cap, they had the fifth-most cap space in the league. Reports indicate Swift will get $16.5 million in his first two years. The Bears are taking advantage of their current roster makeup and cap situation. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson was the only player who was up for a big-time extension. They have the financial resources to continue adding in the coming weeks.

Outlook

The Bears weren’t a Swift away from being a Super Bowl contender, but that was a hole on the offense, and he was clearly a priority, getting the first contract of 2024 free agency. Herbert has had plenty of big games as a Bear, but it hasn’t been consistent. Johnson, a favorite in the building, isn’t a lead back — at least not at this point in his career. Swift was prolific last season on a deep Eagles offense and can give Waldron some play-calling flexibility with what he can do out of the backfield.

Next up on the shopping list for the Bears this offseason is adding a wide receiver, but they can feel pretty good about their backfield for whoever is at quarterback. Spending money at running back can always be risky in today’s game, but Swift can be used in a variety of ways, is still young, is coming off his best season, and has the potential to be a playmaker.

The Bears are in position to spend to fill needs, and this wasn’t the type of contract that will preclude them from other moves down the line.

Mueller’s take

Swift to the Bears makes a lot of sense. I like both the contract and the reward that comes with it. It’s very good value, as Swift will provide more explosive playmaking in the run game and a reliable option on third downs, but he shouldn’t cost as much as Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs.

Swift might lack the power and low pad level of the backs ranked above him, but he has plenty of wiggle to make people miss and burst to escape tacklers in tight areas. He’s just not the finisher that some bigger-bodied guys are. He catches the ball easily, is very effective running angle routes and can adjust smoothly to bad throws. — Randy Mueller, NFL staff writer

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(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)