The Chicago Bears have plenty of reasons to be thankful to D'Andre Swift. He was the main workhorse in a running game that averaged 144.5 rushing yards per game, the third-highest in the league, helping the franchise to an NFC North title.
That said, Swift's contract and Kyle Monangai's presence make the former Georgia Bulldogs standout a potential salary-cap casualty, especially given the Bears' greater need for help on the defensive side of the field. That's why, now that ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports that the Seattle Seahawks won't franchise-tag Kenneth Walker III, the Bears are officially on the clock with their veteran running back.
The Bears Need to Make a Decision About D'Andre Swift Soon
"Sources: the Seattle Seahawks are not expected to tag Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who now is poised to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year opens," Schefter wrote.
Walker hitting the free agent market is bad news for the Bears. With the New York Jets tagging Breece Hall, he's now officially the most prominent name in the running back market, with Jacksonville Jaguars star Travis Etienne as a close second.
This means that teams looking for help in free agency might not be as tempted to make a run at Swift on the trade market. They have other options to pursue, and Swift's potential trade value -- which, admittedly, was not very high to begin with -- might now be even lower.
That's why GM Ryan Poles needs to stay on top of this news cycle. According to Over The Cap, the Bears are $7.4 million over the salary cap. Concidentially, releasing or trading Swift would free $7.4 million in cap space, which is the only reason why they would want to part ways with him right now.
Swift had a solid season in his first year under Ben Johnson's guidance. He turned 223 carries into 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. He also had 34 catches for 299 yards, an average of 8.8 yards per reception.
Again, this decision won't be an indictment of Swift or his game, but a strategic move to make the most of a valuable asset who might lose value as more options become available in the market. Also, it would be better for this team to know how much money they'll have to spend and who will be on the roster before free agency begins.
The fact of the matter is, the running back position has been devalued to the point where moving on from a productive piece of the puzzle, like Swift, is something that must be considered. While it isn't a guarantee to happen again in 2026, Chicago looks to have found something in its seventh-round pick from this past year.
Rookie rusher Kyle Monangai showed flashes during his rookie season of what he could be, topping 700 rushing yards and scoring five rushing touchdowns during the 2025 campaign. But if they don't feel like he can handle a bigger workload, they might as well let it be known that Swift isn't available and plan accordingly.