The Chicago Bears made many key moves to upgrade their roster this off-season. Many were universally praised, while others were met with mixed reactions. One in the latter category was signing free agent running back D’Andre Swift. These days, people are wary of teams paying big money to running backs, knowing they tend to break down by the time they reach their 30s. Still, GM Ryan Poles and the Bears coaching staff felt the team needed more explosiveness and versatility at the position. Swift provided both.
They ended up paying him $8 million per year, tying him for eighth-most in the league. Some feel the Bears overpaid. However, they may have had good reasons to be aggressive. It seems Swift’s market was stronger than some believed. The New York Giants proved that during their first episode of Hard Knocks covering their off-season. While going over possible replacements for departing star Saquon Barkley, Director of Pro Scouting Chris Rossetti lauded Swift.
“This guy, from a physical talent standpoint, can make up some of the things you lose with Saquon from an explosiveness standpoint, from a pass game standpoint.”
New York hoped to make a run at him, but there were some reservations. They feared his price tag, along with his loyalty to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Price point would be a big deal on him,” Rossetti said.
“It’s going to be hard to get him out of Philly,” said assistant GM Brandon Brown. “That’s home for him.”
Rossetti also mentioned one other issue. If you sign Swift, you do so knowing that he is not a back who can carry the rock 20-30 times a game.
“If you’re signing him, he’s going to be more of a package player. You’re going to pair him with somebody.”
When they brought him in, they knew he would have a clearly defined role. He was the primary back, but he would share the load with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. The other two would be able to handle significant carries whenever Swift needs a breather while also preserving his body over a long season. They should also be able to cover up for his weaknesses, such as a lack of power. In essence, the Bears swapped D’Onta Foreman for him, giving the Bears far more big-play potential without sacrificing depth.
New York didn’t end up getting any big names on the veteran market. They signed Devin Singletary as a free agent, choosing to pair him with second-year man Eric Gray and 5th round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. They seem determined to finally run the offense through quarterback Daniel Jones, finding out once and for all if he can be the franchise guy they need. The Chicago Bears have a diverse backfield to help young quarterback Caleb Williams in any situation, and D’Andre Swift gets to be the focal point.
