Nobody took more shit last off-season than D'Andre Swift, and it's hard to say it wasn't justified but he had a great season. I'd say he was a borderline top 10 running back? He looked more decisive and I really like the combo the Bears have.

So what do we think? Do the Bears keep him or let h​im go? On one hand he is coming off his best season. On the other hand the Bears can save about $7.5 mil by cutting/trading him. They could probably fill his role with a mid round draft pick.

So where are we Bears fans? Keep him or cut him?

46 comments

  1. My(unrealistic) offseason dream is to cut swift and then sign breece hall. I think he’d be a top 5 back on this offense.

  3. I lean towards go. As many strides as he made this year in terms of running hard, I still think he just reads the play incorrectly way too often and was primarily a beneficiary of playcaling and run blocking.

    But it’s just my lean. Staying is fine too.

  5. Who are we replacing him with? I think at RB more than almost any position group (Sweat is the only other name that comes to mind) we need a basement of Swift. I think the 2 back punch is the way to go, and I don’t quite trust Monangai to be RB1

  6. I think our line revived his career this season. That being said I think any durable running back would look great behind our line. I’m ok with either

  7. Cut. Him and Edmund’s gone save us 25m and are in the most replaceable spots on their side of the ball.

    Take a RB late to backup Monangai and consider a LB in the first 3

  8. Cut- replaceable position, the cap hit we save for cutting is too important to pass up and we need to beef up the D Line

    That being said he wont be forgotten, made some huge plays this year

  10. Stay. I doubt we’ll find a faster RB for the $7.5m we’ll be paying him. Unless we draft one but that’s hit and miss (usually miss).

  11. I say Stay but I lean toward them cutting him. Ben already cut him loose once, I’m inclined to believe itll happen again. Swift doesnt read the field great and I think that bothers Ben. Wouldn’t be my pick but they know better then me

  12. Stay. RBs aren’t that good in the draft. we should again focus on the trenches and possibly LB/Safety

  13. in monangai we trust. But swift also had his moments and showed heart. would also be happy if he stayed for another year!

  14. If you replace him, you replace him with a high character cultural fit guy that fits the same running/receiving profile and compliments 25. Simple as that.

  15. Keep and draft another RB replacement for him in 2027 and depth in 2026. $7.5m is well worth it with his versatility.

  16. The bears aren’t in salary cap trouble but they aren’t all that flexible either (without restructures or beneficial salary casualties).

    You can probably find a cheaper replacement that’ll match his contributions.

    I do feel terrible saying that after the year he had but that’s the stone cold business side that running backs are subject to.

    If the option is to somehow get rid of swift so that his cap savings can be used at least in part to get an edge like Crosby for example, absolutely.

    If we don’t need the extra flexibility this off-season, I say keep him.

  19. I say keep him. I don’t care if his success was largely due to play calling and line play. It still means something that he was able to take advantage of the situation. There’s no guarantee that his replacement is gonna be a fit. Chemistry isn’t universal.

  21. If he’s starting next year I won’t be upset. But I think there’s a reason Ben let him leave in Detroit, we can get better at the position and Ben’s system almost requires it. I think if there’s a premium option available it could make a huge difference for us.

    Had a great year though.

  22. He can go if he costs too much. I’m of the mindset that you find RB’s thru the draft for cheap. If they are good you do the right thing and resign them for their big contract. But to bring in a guy on a more expensive contract, not for me.

    Swift did good this year, but let’s not forget bout last year. The Oline is what did it for him. Pay the Oline.

  25. As long as he doesn’t demand high-profile money I think it’s a no-brainer to keep him with how significantly he improved this year.

    Besides, do we want another David Montgomery situation on our hands?

  26. I was very skeptical on Swift going into this year, and I’ll say he mostly proved me wrong. However, a good line can make any running back look good, but his pass catching ability is great. What he lacks is ability to break tackles as he’s bottom half in yards after contact

    I think saving $7.5M is more beneficial than having him on the team knowing we can find better value at a lower cost.

  28. We have no RB3, so we sign someone we hope will fill his role for similar money, draft someone we hope will produce like him? I say draft an RB late and have a decent RB1-RB3.

  29. All he needed was a line that could open holes, proving the “trade Swift and draft Ashton Jeanty set wrong. Although Jeanty had a great year, I liked the move to use the #1 on Loveland and waiting to get Monangai in the 7th. Worked out great.

  30. One thing that won’t show up on the stat sheet is all the big moment plays he had. So many times throughout the season (ex: Raiders) the offense was stalling and he injected some much needed life. It’s incredibly valuable to have an outside runner and pass catcher against defenses that are more equipped to handle a running back like monongai. I would keep him. He also seems like a good locker room guy.

  32. Not a priority anymore. Always down for a late round RB though.

    I know Bienemy is a great coach but let’s remember who’s actually designing and installing this running game.

  33. All I know is that it’s a real good thing none of you have a say in the front office.

  35. Stay. He’s not very expensive and Monangai doesn’t cost any money. An upgrade in FA will cost more that you’d save by cutting him and any draft pick is an uncertainty. He’s a known, productive entity in this system

  36. We’re not spending on a replacement in free agency and the upcoming draft class is not great at RB.

    I don’t want to roll into next season with Monangai and like Rachaad White because we thought we could easily upgrade from Swift.

    It’s not that easy. Swift has been durable and is an above average starter when he’s playing at his best. It’s a clear Keep Him for me. Draft a late round RB this year (maybe a pass catcher) and re-evaluate next offseason when his deal is up.

  37. Swift and Monangai run with power. One is better for lateral runs, the other up the middle. Keep this offensive backfield.

  38. Man, I’ve done a complete 180 on Swift. He’s an absolute dog, love him and Monongai paired together.

  39. Stay. It would be less expensive to keep him than bringing in another top tier RB, he and Monangai work well as a duo, and there are other holes that need to be filled before thinking about replacing him.

  40. I’d rather him stay but they’ll save a decent amount of money if they cut him. I also think almost any back could do well in this system and line.

  41. This is a no brainer. He is staying. Unless Jeremiah Love falls to us there isn’t likely an elite game breaking rb which is a rare commodity. Swift is in the next tier though and his advanced numbers were very good as well. Swift was drafted 35th overall and is finally living up to his draft pedigree not shying from contact like he had and he is finally reading the whole the rb2 in this draft will be taken later than 35. Spotrac has Javonte getting 7.2m/yr which is really close to Swift but I’d bet the over on that figure. FWIW Spotrac estimated swift at 8.8 which is over his 3/24 contract we have him on

  42. Wouldn’t it be nice to go into the draft thinking we need to fill the lead RB role? Swift has one year left on his deal. Let’s get the most out of him, and let him rack up yards so he can set himself up in free agency next year for another team.

  43. I think we’re not giving enough credit to his hands. He’s been a solid receiver and the way Ben’s offense runs, I think we need that. Next man up is fine for the run-only plays, but the solid hands and great YAC in open field both contribute to our ability to make explosive plays. I’d hate to roll the dice on some other JAG running back and then have him drop balls in big moments.

  45. Easy stay. I don’t need to know anything more than what I see.

    He’s agile, strong and shifty af. He blocks well, good pass catcher and bought into this offensive philosophy.

    People asking for him to be replaced should tread lightly. Could we do better for cheaper? Maybe. Could we do worse? Definitely.

    The devil you know is better than the one you don’t.

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