The Chicago Bears have the 10th overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. They could spend the pick on a new running back to help reshape their offense.
Ben Johnson has already replaced D’Andre Swift with a first-round running back once before. His offense thrived with the Detroit Lions when he replaced D’Andre Swift with Jahmyr Gibbs. He has a chance to once again target Swift’s replacement in the first round.
Ashton Jeanty is the best running back in this draft class and could be a perfect fit for Johnson’s offense. However, drafting Jeanty would make Swift an expensive luxury. FanSided’s Jordan Campbell noted that the Bears could look to trade Swift if they draft a running back in the first round.
“Just because Swift was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles while Johnson was Lions’ offensive coordinator does not mean that he is going to be traded by the Bears,” wrote Campbell. “Having said that, if Ashton Jeanty is the selection for the Bears, or even Omarion Hampton, that would be a lot of money invested in the running back room for the team. Jeanty or Hampton would arrive at Halas Hall with the expectation of being the primary running back, leaving the Bears in a position to move Swift if a trade surfaces during the draft.”
Swift was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Bears last offseason. He could, in fact, be used in order to put the Bears in position to draft Jeanty. Many experts predict Jeanty will be the Las Vegas Raiders’ pick at No.6. The Bears could include Swift in a deal to move up to No.6 or even higher.
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If Jeanty falls into the Bears’ laps at No.10, then Swift could be used to trade back into the backend of the first round or to move up at another point in the draft. Swift had over 1,300 scrimmage yards last season and could be a valuable piece for a team looking to add a running back.
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