Ryan Poles strikes first with ex-divisonal rival D’Andre Swift By Grant Winsauer

According to Ian Rapoport, the legal tampering period for NFL free agency opened Monday, and Ryan Poles wasted no time adding D’Andre Swift to the offense on a 3-year $24.5 million deal.

It is worth noting that it was his only signing on the first day of free agency, but there are plenty of high-talent options for Poles to pursue during the next few weeks.

Swift was a good signing for the Bears. I know it isn’t Saquon Barkley (who I believe every Bears fan wanted), but Barkley signed a 3-year $37.75 million contract to the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Ian Rapoport. If Bears fans have learned anything since Poles took over as general manager, it should be that he sticks to his values and doesn’t overpay players.

I like the Swift signing because, as every NFL insider believes, drafting Caleb Williams will give him a good safety outlet out of the backfield.

Swift was drafted 35th overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL Draft. According to ESPN, Swift has 2,729 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in the Motor City, averaging 4.6 yards percarry. He also has 1,412 yards and eight receiving touchdowns.

According to ESPN, Swift had a career year in Philadelphia with 1,049 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 229 carries. He will be vital in Shane Waldron’s offense for the next few years. Based on the fact that the Bears only gave Swift a $24.5 million deal when Barkley and Josh Jacobs got over $12 million to play for the Eagles and the Packers, Bears fans should like this deal more and more because the team got a younger running back in Swift, 25. At the same time, Barkley, 27, and Jacobs, 26, all have an injury history, while Swift doesn’t.

I would like to see the Bears add a pass-catcher or two and an edge rusher to pair along with Montez Sweat with our remaining cap space, which, according to Spotrac.com, is about $55 million. That is plenty of money to keep adding talent to this Bears roster.