D'Andre Swift

Chicago went into free agency looking to jumpstart a running game that was previously decent but noticeably lacking in explosiveness, so it made sense to target Swift and make him the centerpiece. Swift did well as the primary runner for Philadelphia in 2023, eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his four NFL seasons, and the hope is he'll tap into another level yet with the Bears. After years of rebuilding, the Chicago offense finally has strong personnel across all positional groups, making this a plug-and-play situation for Swift after signing a three-year, $24 million contract ($15.3 million guaranteed). Meanwhile, the Chicago backfield lacks any other player with Swift's talent/versatility. Khalil Herbert is a capable runner but lacks passing-down utility, while Roschon Johnson can block and catch but poses little threat on the ground. The Bears offense should improve significantly in 2024, and Swift has a real chance to earn a three-down role just as the tide rises. If Swift has a major limitation it's the question of volume capacity -- 2023 was his first season with more than 151 carries or 512 snaps. His three previous years, all in Detroit, were impacted by minor but nagging injuries that sometimes affected his workloads even when he was active. While there perhaps remains a question as to how much he can handle, Swift should approach whatever that number is in 2024. Read Past Outlooks