Bears’ riskiest free agency move in 2024 NFL offseason

The Chicago Bears have made quite a few headlines this offseason and there is optimism around a team that has not been to the NFL playoffs since the 2020 season and has not won a postseason game since 2005.

The Bears have struggled on offense for multiple seasons, but they believe they have answered many of their issues by selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft. Williams has already been installed as the starter and he demonstrated all the measurables during his career at USC that are needed to become a top-flight quarterback in the NFL.

He has excellent arm strength, accuracy, touch and the ability to buy time by moving around the pocket and the Bears believe those assets will translate quickly to the NFL.

In addition to selecting Williams, the Bears acquired veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers and they also drafted Washington wideout Rome Odunze. General manager Ryan Poles believes he has given his young quarterback the star power needed at the wide receiver position to give the Bears a bountiful passing game.

Since they already had a top receiver in D.J. Moore and a solid tight end in Cole Kmet, it would be something of a surprise if the Bears did not have a passing game that was vastly improve over the one that ranked 27th in the NFL last year. Chicago could make a move into the top half of the league and perhaps the top 10.

Bears add D’Andre Swift to help the running game

Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift (0) against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Poles knows that the passing game alone is not enough to carry a team with a rookie quarterback. He knows that Williams will need quite a bit of help from the running game if he is going to have a solid and consistent season.

A successful running game can take quite a bit of pressure off the quarterback, and that’s why the Bears signed free agent running back D’Andre Swift.

Swift played the first three seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions before he moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles last year.

Swift is coming off a solid year with the Eagles, as he rushed for 1,049 yards, a 4.6 yards per carry average and 5 touchdowns. The Bears saw enough from Swift to give him a three-year, $24 million deal.

While he was a Pro Bowler last season for the Eagles, he was more of a role player in his first three seasons with the Lions. He never rushed for more than 617 yards during his time in Detroit.

He was a role player with the Lions, and he will face competition from Khalil Herbert. The Bears are paying Swift to be the No. 1 running back, but it is not likely to be easy to take playing time away from Herbert. If Swift does not assert himself and has to split time with Herbert or falls into the role of second-team running back, the Bears will not be receiving full value for the money they have invested in Swift.

More than that, if Swift disappoints and the running game is ineffective, it could take away from Williams’ development and effectiveness.

Getting off to fast start is essential for Swift

The pressure is on the Bears to demonstrate significant improvement for an offense that has been relatively stagnant in recent years.

Since the Bears have added so much firepower this year with Williams, Allen, Odunze and Swift, the team needs to get off to a sharp start when they open the season against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. The Bears will follow with road games against the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts followed by home games against the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

That is the kind of schedule that should be advantageous to the Bears, and Swift’s ability to provide a consistent running game is essential.

If he can give the Bears a solid ground game, it will make Williams’ introduction to the NFL much more likely to be successful. On the other hand, if Swift can’t give the team a consistent boost with his running game, opponents will be able to come after Williams with quite a bit of ferocity.