The Chicago Bears won’t be able to go on a spending spree in free agency this year. If they do anything, it’ll likely be one or two notable moves at most, along with the usual bargain shopping. The obvious question is who they may target in such a scenario. Most of the focus has been on key positions like left tackle, defensive tackle, pass rusher, and safety. However, former Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson thinks they may pull a swerve. He thinks they may go after Kenneth Walker.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP had another strong season for the Seattle Seahawks, going for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns. However, with Zach Charbonnet already on the roster, most feel the champs will decide to let Walker hit the market. Robinson feels the running back would be a huge addition to Ben Johnson’s offense, boasting the mix of speed and contact balance the Bears head coach loves. Don’t forget Robinson played for him in Detroit, so he knows Johnson’s preferences.
Allen Robinson knows Johnson isn’t afraid to shake things up.
People will immediately say the Bears already have D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Why would they bother making a big move at running back with someone like Walker? Mostly because Johnson has done it before. Despite having Swift and Jamaal Williams in 2022, Detroit traded the former and let the latter walk in free agency. They signed David Montgomery as a free agent and drafted Jahmyr Gibbs in the 1st round. Swift is in the last years of his contract. He also has two more seasons of mileage on his body.
Releasing or trading Swift and signing Walker would be a calculated move to give the running back room a minor upgrade and maintain some stability. Current projections have the Seahawks star commanding around $9 million per year on his next contract. That is affordable for the Bears, at least compared to some of the other positions they’re expected to try, like edge rusher and left tackle. What Robinson says is correct. Not only would the Bears get a good player, but they’d also weaken the defending champions.
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The Walker decision entirely depends on Swift.
Namely, what does Coach Johnson think the running back has left in the tank? He’s still only 27 years old. There is no reason to think he can’t put together at least two more good seasons before his body starts breaking down. Having Monangai spell him from time to time should only help with keeping him fresh. That said, smart teams always move off a player right before they hit their decline. Walker is squarely in his prime. He has a complete skill set that would fit perfectly in Johnson’s system.
Allen Robinson isn’t wrong about this idea. It has merit. Do the Bears really want to allocate their limited spending capacity to another running back? That feels unlikely. They already proved they can run the ball with this pairing. It would be wiser to go hunting for help at defensive line, safety, or left tackle. Running backs aren’t hard to find on the cheap anyway.
