The Chicago Bears have done an excellent job of rebuilding their team following a bitterly disappointing 2024 campaign that felt like a waste of quarterback Caleb Williams' rookie season.
Among the many issues the Bears dealt with, aside from a disastrous offensive line, poor defensive and leaky defense, was the running game. Chicago ranked 27th in the NFL in yards per rush (4.8). Part of that can be attributed to line play, yet D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson failed to turn heads as the top two backs in the system.
It's clear that an upgrade is needed in the backfield, and the Bears may have the perfect opportunity to poach a Super Bowl-winning runner who would instantly bolster the backfield.
Bears Acquire Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco in Projected Trade
This projected trade sees Chicago acquiring Kansas City Chiefs back Isiah Pacheco for a mere fifth-round pick (No. 148). It's a small price to pay for someone with Pacheco's talent, as he's proven to be a difference-maker on a championship squad.
Pacheco dealt with injuries in 2024 and never found his footing. However, he's only 26 years old and doesn't have much tread on his tires. General manager Ryan Poles has ties to Kansas City and has already acquired All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, someone whom Pacheco is quite familiar with. The Chiefs don't seem tied to Pacheco, having given Kareem Hunt control of the backfield while signing Elijah Mitchell this offseason, so it seems probable that they'd be open to a potential trade.
Swift is a versatile back, though his skillset is different than Pacheco's. The latter is more of a downfield bruiser, hoping to run over defenders, while Swift is more of a dancer and pass-catcher. Pairing the two with Johnson as a third option would give head coach Ben Johnson plenty of options, allowing the offense to put pressure on defenses while keeping every running back fresh throughout each drive.
While Pacheco has never eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in a season, he doesn't have to in order to be an effective addition for Chicago. Having him as a complementary option makes more sense than making him a primary one, and Johnson certainly knows how to utilize dynamic backfields given his experience with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Swift and Pacheco could be the Bears' off-brand version of what the Detroit Lions have. For an organization hoping to build for the future, that'd be a huge boost moving forward.