The Chicago Bears have gone to great lengths to set up a smooth transition for their expected top draft pick, quarterback Caleb Williams. Alongside a significant trade for wide receiver Keenan Allen and a proactive move in signing former Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift during free agency, the team aimed to enhance their offensive arsenal for Williams.
Despite these efforts, skepticism looms over Swift’s potential impact in the Bears’ backfield, with one NFL analyst even deeming the signing as one of the league’s most unfavorable moves of the offseason thus far.
An analyst is not optimistic about the Chicago Bears’ signing of D’Andre Swift
In Philadelphia, Swift demonstrated his versatility, showcasing the ability to make big plays both as a runner and a pass-catcher out of the backfield. However, Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler doubts that Swift will significantly upgrade the Bears, despite his lucrative three-year, $24 million deal.
Fowler argues that there wasn’t a pressing need for another running back in Chicago. He believes Swift’s success in 2023, where he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time, was more a result of the Eagles’ strong offensive line creating lanes for him rather than Swift’s individual skill. Fowler questions whether Swift would have outperformed Herbert or Johnson if given a similar workload, even with the expected addition of Caleb Williams at quarterback likely to draw defenses away from the line of scrimmage.
While the Bears already have Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson on the roster, it’s uncertain whether Swift will immediately become a game-changing player and a difficult matchup for opposing defenses, or if he’ll end up being seen as an expensive luxury at a time when running backs are undervalued.
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