The Chicago Bears wanted to infuse the running back position with more talent this offseason. However, as we’ve learned over the years, the rest of the league sometimes doesn’t cooperate. Three times in the NFL draft, the Bears had hoped to land a potential feature back. All three times, other teams scooped up the best options before they went on the clock. That left GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson no choice. They settled for Kyle Monangai in the 7th round, slotting him into a committee alongside D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson.
Experts feel that, while underwhelming, such a group can still produce for the Bears. No player benefits more from this outcome than Swift. Many thought he was destined to become nothing more than a rotational option. He should remain the primary back this year, barring the addition of another veteran to the mix in the next few months. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog reached out to friends in the league to gauge the feelings on Swift. While some see him as a valuable weapon, others believe he’s too soft.
On D’Andre Swift: “Shane’s usage of Swift last season was just odd. He’s a dangerous player in the passing game and I would think that’s where Ben will primarily use him.”
On D’Andre Swift, again: “Not my favorite player but can be useful. Our defensive coaches thought if you hit him hard early in the game, he’d go into a bit of a shell.”
That statement is reflected in the performances D’Andre Swift had.
If you examine his worst games in 2024, you’ll notice that they almost always came against opponents known for their physical defenses.
- Houston – 1.3 yards per carry
- Detroit – 2.2 yards per carry
- Minnesota – 2.3 yards per carry
- San Francisco – 2.7 yards per carry
- Green Bay – 3.3 yards per carry
It is clear evidence that D’Andre Swift is not a running back built for the rugged nature of his position. At least not all of its aspects. He is a lethal player in the open field. His speed, quickness, and agility make him a nightmare to corral. The problem is he doesn’t have the strength or toughness to shed tacklers once they get their hands on him. This is probably why the Lions traded him in 2023 and the Eagles let him leave in free agency last year. He had limitations that they weren’t comfortable rewarding.
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Johnson likely knew this was the case and had hoped to find a solution. It didn’t happen. That means the Bears will have to work around the issue for this season. An improved offensive line and better play calling should help. If Monangai carves out a bigger role, all the better.
