General manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears came out of nowhere with their three-year contract extension for 2023 Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift, giving him $33.7 million in that span, including $19.2 million in guaranteed money.
However, the full structure of the deal remained unclear in the immediate aftermath.
D’Andre Swift Gets Paid as Bears Keep Options Open
Here are some quick bullet points, per Over The Cap, on a deal that will keep Swift in Chicago through the 2029 season should he play out the string:
2027:
- $9.8M base salary
- $2M prorated signing bonus
- $510K per-game roster bonus
- $190K workout bonus
- $9.8M guaranteed
- $12.5M cap hit
2028:
- $9.7M base salary
- $2M prorated signing bonus
- $595K per-game roster bonus
- $205K workout bonus
- $12.5M cap hit
2029:
- $7.95M base salary
- $2M prorated signing bonus
- $1M roster bonus
- $595K per-game roster bonus
- $205K workout bonus
- $11.75M cap hit
Bears Reward D’Andre Swift, Maintain Flexibility
Swift’s new deal with the Bears will take him through his age-30 season. Again, though, that is if he can see it through.
Spotrac noted the Bears can cut ties with Swift during the 2028 offseason with a post-June 1 designation, saving $10.5 million for that season compared to $2 million in dead cap hits for 2028 and 2029.
Cutting ties before then would leave the Bears upside down on the deal.
There are no signs of that now, with Swift coming off a career year and appearing poised to be even more explosive now that he has settled into the Bears’ offense under head coach Ben Johnson.
He forms a highly complementary tandem with second-year former seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai, and together, they give the Bears a strong base for their offense, off of which everything else is built.
The Bears’ run game is loaded.
In addition to their 1-2 punch at running back, a trimmed-down Caleb Williams showcased his speed at quarterback in Week 1, giving the Bears a three-headed monster in the backfield.
Notably, the Bears’ out in Swift’s contract aligns with what would be the first year of an extension for Williams, assuming he and the front office work things out without having to resort to the franchise tag.
How the Bears build out the roster after that will be worth monitoring.
