The Chicago Bears' running game was a pleasant surprise last season. That's why, even though there were multiple rumors about D'Andre Swift's future with the organization, keeping the former University of Georgia standout might not be the craziest idea.
More than that, it looks like the Bears won't have much of a choice now. According to ESPN, the Miami Dolphins don't intend to trade De'Von Achane, leaving Ben Johnson's team with one fewer replacement option if they were looking to move off of Swift and find a long-term pairing with Kyle Monangai.
"De'Von Achane apparently will not be part of the Miami Dolphins' offseason roster purge," the report stated. "Teams that have recently called the Dolphins to inquire about trading for Achane have been told that the star running back is not available, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter."
De'Von Achane's Latest Development is Music to D'Andre Swift's Ears
Since last season, the Bears have been tangled up in trade rumors involving Swift. Conversely, they were also rumored as a potential destination for the Dolphins' play-making, dual-threat running back.
Trading Achane looks like an obvious next move for Miami after they also moved on from star WR Jaylen Waddle. However, the rusher is just 24 years old, so they might believe he'll still be good by the time they finish their rebuild. Moreover, they also need to give new QB Malik Willis something to work with as he transitions from Green Bay to South Beach.
That works out perfectly for Swift. He earned the right to run it back in the Windy City after helping the Bears average 144.5 rushing yards per game, the third-most in the league last season. He put up 67.9 rushing yards per game, turning 223 carries into 1,087 yards (4.9 YPC) and nine touchdowns. If that wasn't impressive enough, he added 34 catches on 48 targets for 299 yards and another score.
That said, the Bears entered the offseason in a tough financial situation. GM Ryan Poles had to cut some guys loose and do plenty of financial juggling to make the numbers work. Swift will make $6.39 million and have an $8.8 million cap hit, according to Spotrac, so with Monangai there, he looked like a potential salary cap casualty.
Then again, Monangai closed out the season on a bad note, and with the way Swift performed, it makes sense they want to keep him around for a little longer. He'll also appreciate the opportunity to remain with a playoff team rather than a rebuilding franchise. Of course, pairing Ben Johnson with a speedy playmaker like Achane is a mouth-watering thought for most Bears fans, but for now, it looks like that's just not going to happen.