The Chicago Bears wasted little time in free agency signing the most exciting running back to hit the market. That may sound controversial in a free agent class that includes Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler. But Chicago’s new starting RB, D’Andre Swift, is the youngest of the bunch, and the only one of the group to finish with positive rushing efficiency.
Swift led this group in total yards per carry, yards before contact, and forced missed tackle rate.
He also led this group in receptions per catchable target, and trailed only Jacobs in forced missed tackles per reception.
The Bears are signing Swift to a three-year deal worth $24 million. He’ll join Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson (both still on rookie deals), and Travis Homer (still under contract), in what is on paper a fairly crowded backfield. Does Swift bring enough talent to pull away from the pack?
Swift’s 2023 Season
Swift started last season on a tear, with four RB1 performances in the first six weeks.
This run culminated in a Week 6 game in which Swift caught eight of 10 targets for 40 yards and a touchdown to offset a lackluster rushing performance (10-18-0). After Week 6, he saw more than three targets in only one game. (He was targeted six times in Week 13, but caught only two of them for 7 yards.) Swift’s poor second half corresponded with a collapse of the Eagles’ offense, as Philadelphia lost five of their last six games to close out the regular season. Including the Eagles’ playoff loss to Tampa Bay, the team averaged only 18.8 points per game from Week 13 on.[1]
Swift’s lack of targets down the stretch meant he had his first season with fewer than 50 targets, and his first below 300 receiving yards. How much of Swift’s performance (or lack thereof) can be blamed on the general inability of the Eagles to move the ball and put up points is uncertain. What is certain is that the Bears wasted no time in making Swift their new starting RB. Is Swift likely to benefit from this move?
Swift’s 2024 Outlook in Chicago
Footnotes
| ↑1 | They averaged 28.2 from Week 1 to Week 12. |
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