The Chicago Bears have been busy so far this offseason working to completely overhaul the offensive roster from top to bottom, with more additions expected to be on the way in the 2024 NFL Draft.
General manager Ryan Poles has done everything in his power to surround his next quarterback with the best supporting cast he could put together while offering a mix of different styles and formations for new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to implement heading into next season.
The Bears' offense is expected to look a lot more pass heavy under Waldron compared to how the unit looked the last two seasons under Luke Getsy. However, don't rule out the Bears still looking to have a major emphasis on the running game in 2024 to help balance out the offense for their young quarterback.
As soon as the legal tampering period opened at the start of free agency, the Bears were the first team to jump out of the gates and quickly agreed to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles' running back D'Andre Swift.
The signing, and more so the aggression showed to make it happen, was a surprise to see out of the Bears' front office who were rumored to upgrade the position this offseason after the NFL Scouting Combine. Swift now enters the Bears' backfield as the clear starter ahead of Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson.
While speaking with reporters at the league meetings down in Orlando earlier this week, Bears' head coach Matt Eberflus explained why the Bears' front office showed such an aggressive push to acquire the dynamic running back.
"We just felt that we wanted a home-run hitter there," Eberflus explained. "I think D’Andre brings that. We wanted a weapon back – a guy who could be a weapon out of the backfield. He’s got tremendous speed. You can feel that when he is running the football but you can definitely feel that as a pass catcher."
Swift's versatility out of the backfield and as a pure rusher offers a stark difference compared to the styles of Herbert and Johnson. His ability to be used as a home-run hitter on the ground and a reliable pass catcher will make it hard to take him off the field entering next season.
The extra added additions of wide receiver Keenan Allen and tight end Gerald Everett gives the Bears' offense a well-rounded core of different pass catchers to target, which will make the unit increasingly difficult to defend for opposing defenses.
"I know that in situational football it’s very difficult to be able to have the two guys outside covered, two tight ends covered, and then you got another situation where you have the weapon back inside," Eberflus added. "So, that was critical."
Despite having a career-low 39 receptions and 214 receiving yards during his first season with the Eagles in 2023, Eberflus expects Swift to be utilized heavily in the passing attack and get back to the style of play he entered the NFL playing with the Detroit Lions during his first three seasons.
"I feel like God has blessed me with the ability to do a lot of everything," Swift said during his introductory press conference. "I say that because I know the amount of work that I put in. So, I'm comfortable saying that I can do everything."
Swift's style out of the backfield will be an exciting bolt of energy to see out of the Bears' offense that the organization hasn’t seen from the position in a few years. He will be a real threat for the Bears and a key player for a rookie quarterback to rely on.
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