Stockpiling playmakers such as RB D'Andre Swift only will help Bears — no matter who plays QB

Even if the Bears use the No. 1 pick in the draft next month to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams, there’s no telling how long it’ll take them to become a proficient passing team.

But one thing they’re good at right now is running, and reinforcing their ground attack by signing Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract only will help Williams as he tries to get his footing in the NFL.

Swift shot straight to the top of the depth chart at running back, but the Bears have an electric big-play threat in Khalil Herbert behind him and have high hopes for rugged Roschon Johnson. That’s a good variety of weapons for offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

Swift, 25, said Thursday that he’s fine with ‘‘however it plays out’’ among the three running backs and that his only expectation is ‘‘to work and earn whatever role they have for me.’’ He added that the Bears didn’t pitch him on a specific role, which was unsurprising, given that they agreed to terms with him about 20 minutes into free agency.

It’s indisputable, however, that he has the credentials and contract of a lead back. The Bears weren’t willing to shell out for top free agents Saquon Barkley ($12.6 million per year from the Eagles) or Josh Jacobs ($12 million per year from the Packers), but Swift fit neatly into their scheme and budget. At $8 million per year, he will be the seventh-highest-paid running back next season.

‘‘It came down to where I was wanted the most,’’ Swift said. ‘‘This was the best decision for me, best opportunity for me with everything that was out there. . . . It kind of made it an easy situation, easy decision.’’

Swift got 67% of the carries among running backs for the Eagles last season and turned in 1,049 yards and five touchdowns on 229 rushes. He also caught 39 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. The Bears likely envision him leading their running game with similar responsibility, and Herbert and Johnson will fill in the rest.

Swift will be especially motivated to help vault the Bears back into the mix in the NFC North. He began his career with the Lions as a second-round pick in 2020, but they offloaded him to the Eagles last year in favor of draft pick Jahmyr Gibbs. So after being a big part of the Lions’ rebuild, Swift got squeezed out right before they arrived as a championship contender.

‘‘It seems like the division is wide-open,’’ he said, though his former teammates would disagree after going 12-5 and nearly making the Super Bowl last season. ‘‘Yeah, 100%. The division is wide-open for whoever wants to take it.

‘‘It ain’t going to come overnight. You’ve got to put the work in. You’ve got to grind for it. But I feel like we can do it.’’

Regardless of whether he grasps the gap between the Bears and Lions, Swift helps the Bears in multiple ways. Few running backs make it through a season without missing time, and the Bears have had to use various practice-squad players the last few seasons. Now they have legitimate lead backs in Swift and Herbert, and Johnson has shown signs he might reach that level, too.

It also puts the Bears in a good position in the long term. Herbert will be in the last season of his rookie deal, and the team can afford to let him walk now. If the situation changes, the Bears have an affordable opt-out on Swift’s deal after 2025 with a dead-cap hit of only $1.3 million.

More than anything, though, the Bears’ offense desperately needs playmakers of any kind. Sure, it would’ve been great to
reload at receiver, and general manager Ryan Poles still must find a way to do that. But the more weapons, the better.

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