Bears' Pro Bowler Labeled One of Off-season's Worst Signings

The Chicago Bears have been quite active this off-season. While many of their moves have received positive praise, Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report criticized one of their free-agent signings, calling it one of the "worst free-agent signings" of the off-season so far. Ryan is referring to the Bears' first signing during the opening hour of free agency. The deal was with former Lions and Eagles running back D'Andre Swift for a three-year contract worth $24 million. The deal included a $4 million signing bonus and guaranteed Swift $15.3 million. Ryan commented on the signing, stating Chicago did not need to invest at the running back position.

With Khalil Herbert already in town along with Roschon Johnson — whom the team spent early Day 3 draft capital on last spring — there wasn’t a glaring need for another running back in Chicago.

Everyone has their own opinions, but I believe Ryan might not have watched many Bears games last season. Apart from Justin Fields, the Bears lacked a dynamic runner. Swift adds a level of speed and burst that Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert don't have in their game. He reminds me of a bit of Tarik Cohen but Swift is a more consistent runner and a lot more physical between the tackles. With the running back market heating up this off-season, Swift was among the top available players. Providing Caleb Williams with another weapon is extremely important. It's nice to see that the Bears are doing everything possible to support their rookie quarterback and set him up for success. Time will tell with this signing but I think it will bode well for the Bears and most importantly Caleb Williams.

A Different Side To Caleb Williams No One Knows About..

To hear the full conversation with Tahj Washington, you can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Additionally, the show is available on YouTube, where you can watch the video included below. In the podcast, Tahj shares even more details and stories about Caleb and we learn more about his football journey, the 2024 NFL Draft process, and so much more.