One of the more surprising Chicago Bears headlines to emerge early in the offseason is a report tying the franchise to impending free agent Travis Etienne. The Jacksonville Jaguars will be hard-pressed to retain the playmaker with projected negative cap space, according to Over The Cap. Jacksonville is looking at a figure of -$21.9 million, speaking to the work that needs to be done. Where this potential fit for Chicago becomes confusing is that the Bears are in a similar situation with projected cap space of -$17.3 million.
Adding Etienne would also mean D'Andre Swift must be cut or traded, despite the back averaging 4.9 yards per carry on his way to 1,087 rushing yards on the season. Etienne averaged fewer yards per carry while providing slightly more production with 1,107 rushing yards on the season. This brings us to Swift's contract situation, which makes it beyond clear that chasing Etienne in free agency would be an obvious mistake.
Trading or cutting Swift results in the same $7.4 million in projected cap savings for the Bears and helps push the team closer to positive cap space. Where this logic goes off the rails is the realization that Etienne would offset any savings, as he's projected to garner a contract of around $6.8 million during the 2026 offseason. Cutting Swift perhaps saves you less than $1 million in cap space and jettisons a player coming off an incredible 2025 season.
Bears Have No Reason to Seriously Entertain Reported Interest in Travis Entienne
To put it simply, the Bears have no reason to push away a proven offensive playmaker to make a free agency move that isn't a meaningful upgrade. Etienne is perhaps a bit more explosive in the passing game in seasons past; however, Swift finished with more receiving yardage in 2025 on two fewer catches. Every stat you dive into, basic or advanced, is going to tell the same story about considering the change.
Chicago has a great thing going with the duo of Swift and Kyle Monangai, offering an exciting backfield for the 2026 season. It is difficult to find any viable reason to break apart this duo, even with Swift entering the final year of his deal. The Bears' best path is hoping that Monangai takes a second-year leap and becomes the primary back by the time Swift is ready to hit free agency.
Regardless, the point remains that signing Etienne would be wasted cap space as Swift offers better production at a similar rate. No matter who the more talented playmaker might be, the path for the Bears is obvious: sticking with the known contributor and not upsetting a backfield that helped define an exciting 2025 offense. If the Bears make the obvious decision, Swift isn't going anywhere, and Entienne isn't a viable offseason target.