Bears Biggest X-Factor Revealed for the 2024 Season
Welcome back to my new series of player previews for the 2024 NFL season, leading up to training camp. The Chicago Bears have a new quarterback and a mix of familiar faces on both offense and defense. Although the expectations aren’t as high as some seasons, they’re still quite optimistic given the team’s talent. In this series, I’ll provide quick previews and my season projections for many key players. Today we will focus on Bears RB D’Andre Swift. Can Swift be the x-factor in the Bears offense?
D’Andre Swift
2023 Stats:
Rushing: 229 carries (12th) | 1049 rushing yards (5th) | 5TD (123rd)
Receiving: 39 receptions | 214 yards | 1 TD
D’Andre Swift quickly became the Bears’ top priority in free agency, signing with them shortly after negotiations began. His contract amounts to $24 million over three years. Originally drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2020, Swift has proven himself as a very good running back in the NFL. As the team heads into training camp, he is set to be RB1. At 25 years old, Swift had a breakout 2023 season. With Justin Fields no longer on the team, the Bears are counting on Swift to help maintain their run game presence.
2024 Projected Stats: 215 carries | 908 rushing yards | 4 TD | 40 receptions | 304 receiving yards| 3 TD
Swift is a highly underrated addition to the Bears roster. While the Bears’ running game has its imperfections, Justin Fields effectively masked many of these flaws. This isn’t meant to diminish Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, or even D’onta Foreman’s production. Swift simply operates at a higher tier compared to those three, positioning him as a crucial safety valve for rookie QB Caleb Williams. I think that alone will make Swift the biggest x-factor for the Bears in 2024.