Ben Johnson has stated his intention to “rip the Chicago Bears offense down to the studs” and rebuild it around quarterback Caleb Williams for the 2025 season.
Could this process involve trading one of the team’s highest-paid offensive starters, much like the Detroit Lions did during his tenure?
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently suggested seven NFL trades that could “shake up” the upcoming free agency period and the 2025 NFL draft. One of these proposed trades involved starting running back D’Andre Swift.
The suggested trade: The Bears would send Swift and the remaining two years of his $24 million contract to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for their 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 144 overall).
Swift’s potential trade candidacy has been a topic since Johnson’s hiring in January, partly due to their brief history with the Lions. Swift recorded his fewest carries (98) and played the least amount of offensive snaps (393) in 2022 during his sole season under Johnson as the offensive coordinator.
The Lions subsequently traded Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles in a 2023 draft-day deal after signing David Montgomery and selecting Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round, a scenario Moton speculated the Bears could look to replicate.
“Johnson may – once again – approve a trade that sends Swift elsewhere. If that happens, the Raiders would be a strong candidate,” Moton wrote. “In 2024, the Raiders had the worst rushing attack in the league. They need to overhaul their backfield.”
Speculation about Swift’s future in Chicago isn’t solely based on Johnson’s views.
Swift struggled to meet expectations during his first season with the Bears in 2024 after signing a three-year, $24 million deal in March. While he nearly reached 1,000 rushing yards, he averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry on a career-high 253 carries and had under 40 rushing yards in seven games.
Although Swift’s contract makes him nearly uncuttable, the Bears could explore trade options if Johnson doesn’t believe he fits in his system.
After all, the Bears still have power back Roschon Johnson under contract for the next two years. They might also consider the deep 2025 running back class and draft a promising rookie to replace Swift in the rotation.
