The Chicago Bears made plenty of changes this offseason, but as the team sits four games into the Ben Johnson era, there are probably more moves on the way. One possibility is making a trade or two ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, and one area where the Bears could use reinforcements is at the running back position.
With the Bears' rushing attack ranking 24th in yards per game (102.3) and 26th in yards per attempt (3.8), general manager Ryan Poles will have his boots on the ground looking for an upgrade. That process may even extend to social media, as Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane may have hinted a trade is coming after a post on Instagram this week (h/t @schadjoe).
“One week they love me, one week they hate me,” Achane wrote in the post. “Both weeks I got paid.”
De’Von Achane’s Instagram Post Could Help Bears Make a Trade
Achane could just be making the motivational post that many athletes make on social media. He could also be discussing his fantasy football owners after running for a season-high 99 yards and his first touchdown of the season in Monday’s win over the New York Jets. But there’s also a chance that he’s trying to lobby his way out of Miami.
Despite Monday’s win, the Dolphins are 1-3 and expected to be sellers at the deadline. While Achane was a human highlight reel with 7.8 yards per attempt, his effectiveness has decreased as Miami has leaned on him as the feature back, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt in 2024 and 4.9 yards per attempt this season.
Those numbers are still very good, of course, and teams that need an explosive playmaker will still be interested in adding him at the deadline. If Dolphins GM Grier is open to selling, Poles and the Bears should be one of the first teams on the phone.
Many thought the Bears would go after a running back after Johnson’s rushing attack was anchored by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery during his three years as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. But Johnson allowed D'Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai to make their case in the first four games of the season — a chance that both backs seem to have fumbled.
Swift has had one key role, but he has just 187 yards for two touchdowns and 13 catches for 85 yards over the first month of the season. Even more concerning is that Swift is averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry and 3.9 yards per touch in the second year of a three-year, $24 million contract. With the Bears being able to get out of the deal with just $1.3 million in dead money next spring, they could pocket the $7.5 million in cap savings and look for an upgrade.
The same goes for Monangai. While the Bears would likely give the Rutgers product an extended leash, he hasn’t been able to prove his worth by getting on the field. Aside from being a liability in pass protection, Monangai hasn’t been able to get going on the ground, gaining 62 yards on 17 carries (3.6 ypc) in the first four games.
With Swift having one foot out the door and Monangai struggling, the Bears may turn their attention to Achane, who could be one of the biggest names on the trade market. Recent deals involving running backs have included the Minnesota Vikings' acquisition of Jordan Mason (2025 pick swap and a 2026 sixth-round pick) from the San Francisco 49ers and the 49ers acquiring Brian Robinson (2026 sixth-round draft pick), and show that Achane may be available for a modest cost.
The Bears have a full cabinet of picks at their disposal, and acquiring a back like Achane could be a safer option than selecting a back in next year’s draft. While Chicago would also have to pay Achane after his rookie contract ends in 2026, Achane’s post shows that a trade is more than just speculation and could go down over the next month.