The Chicago Bears' running game got off to a slow start last season. Head coach Ben Johnson preached patience, and once the revamped offensive line found its rhythm, the running backs took off as well.
Johnson's team averaged a staggering 144.5 rushing yards per game, the third-most in the league. That said, even the best things can be improved, and with the Miami Dolphins seemingly going through another fire sale, the Bears might want to inquire about De'Von Achane's availability.
De'Von Achane Makes Perfect Sense for the Bears
The Dolphins kicked off the Jeff Hafley era by moving on from Bradley Chubb and Tyreek Hill, and they're reportedly open to trading Minkah Fitzpatrick. With all the uncertainty around Tua Tagovailoa, they might be heading to a full reset.
As such, a budding star like Achane might want to take his talents somewhere else. He'll be a free agent in 2027, so this might be the Dolphins' best shot to land solid value in return for their speedy running back. Also, with the Bears hiring Eric Studesville, who was the running backs coach in Miami, there's an obvious connection there.
The latest batch of rumors indicate that Miami is seeking a second-round pick in exchange for Achane. While top end draft capital is always important to the team-building process, bringing in a proven veteran like Achane only raises the floor for what is already an impressive rushing attack.
The Bears' running game clearly worked like a charm last season, but D'Andre Swift's future with the team is still up in the air. He could be a salary cap casualty, and the possibility of landing an upgrade like Achane would probably seal his fate in the Windy City even faster.
Achane is one of the most explosive big-play specialists in the league. He topped 100 yards from scrimmage 10 times in 16 games last season, and he had fewer than 50 rushing yards only once. Achane finished the season with 1,350 rushing yards on 238 carries (5.7 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns, adding 67 receptions on 85 targets for 488 yards and four scores.
The Bears already have a bruising running back in Kyle Monangai. He can excel in goal-line and short-yardage situations and wear out the defense. Then, they can get Achane on the floor to make the most of his speed and craftiness to find running lanes in the open field. Ben Johnson already used a similar approach when he was with the Detroit Lions, alternating Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The Dolphins might never be as open to trading their playmaking running back, and even if the Bears have more pressing needs on the roster, they would be foolish to ignore this opportunity.