It came so quickly that it had to have been done before the "legal tampering" window for free agency opened. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears have agreed to terms on a three-year, $24 million deal with former Lions running back D'Andre Swift,
According to Schefter, the deal includes $15.3 million in guaranteed money. The full details will come, but $8 million a year with almost two-thirds guaranteed is as significant deal for Swift. The Lions gave David Montgomery $6 million per year with $11 million guaranteed last offseason.
Swift was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2020 draft. After three injury-filled seasons, and the drafting of Jahmyr Gibbs to replace him, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 3 of the 2023 draft. He went on to set career-highs for games played (16, rested in Week 18), carries (229) and rushing yards (1,049).
Bears overpay for former Lions' running back D'Andre Swift
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Eagles had interest in bringing Swift back while they still had exclusive ability to sign him. But Philadelphia had an up close look at these splits, and seemingly smartly drew a financially line for where they'd go to keep Swift.
Week 2-Week 12: 4.8 yards per carry
Week 13-Wild Card Round: 4.0 yards per carry
Swift has also run behind great offensive lines in Detroit and Philadelphia thus far in his career. The Bears' offensive line is not on that level, but they do have some other backs (Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson) to lessen his workload a little. But they're paying Swift like he'll be their clear-cut lead back, and
The Bears are set to find out what the Lions and the Eagles already have. Swift can be great in spurts, but it's never sustainable. And they gave him a lot of money, at least on the surface, to find out something they saw twice a year (if/when Swift was available for the Lions) for three years.