The Chicago Bears are off from practice on Monday as the coaching staff and front office uses the day to evaluate the roster going into the final week of the preseason. There’s a lot of conversations that need to be had to day, but one to watch is a potential extension.

Bears insider Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Tribune, hinted over the weekend that one more contract extension could be on the way before the 2026 regular season kicks off. The surprising part? It’s not cornerback Tyrique Stevenson or defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, both of whom entering the final year of their rookie deals.

Biggs instead pointed to the offensive side of the ball, where running back D’Andre Swift could be the name to watch leading up to the start of the regular season.

Making the case for D’Andre Swift to get an extension from the Chicago Bears

Swift is entering the final year of his three-year, $24 million deal he signed with the Bears as a free agent back in 2024. During the first two years of that deal, Swift posted 2,046 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, including career-highs across the board in 2025.

Last season was Swift’s first year back with Ben Johnson, who previously shipped Swift out of Detroit in favor of Jahmyr Gibbs. Johnson’s stance on Swift has changed drastically with Swift proving last year that he’s a “vital part” of what Johnson wants to do offensively in Chicago.

“I love where he’s at,” Johnson said of Swift earlier this month. “He’s working hard. He’s got a better understanding of the offense, that’s clear. You can tell his confidence level continues to rise each practice he’s out there.”

Speaking of which, Swift has looked awesome throughout training camp. He is consistently hitting explosive plays on the ground, which is an emphasis for the run game going into this season. Everything is pointing toward this being a potential deal in the making that could be announced in the coming days to keep Swift in Chicago.

The running back market keeps climbing compared to the last time the Bears paid D’Andre Swift

The financial landscape at the running back position has shifted dramatically this offseason. Jahmyr Gibbs became the latest running back to blow up the market, landing $22.5 million per year from the Detroit Lions. Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor secured a deal worth north of $20 million annually. Christian McCaffrey could have one last extension in the works with the San Francisco 49ers that would make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league.

The good news for Chicago is that Swift likely wouldn’t command that kind of money right now. His current deal pays him $8 million per year in 2026, and a reasonable extension could bump that number to somewhere in the $12 million to $14 million per year range, similar in range to Josh Jacobs or perhaps a touch higher. That feels like fair value for Swift after what he did last season and what he’s still capable of producing.

Why acting now makes sense for Chicago instead of after the 2026 season

The Bears have an opportunity to actually get ahead of the market before falling behind. As things stand looking ahead to the 2027 offseason, Swift is positioned to be the top running back option on the market and could land a sizable deal, either with the Bears or from another team.

If Chicago waits and Swift puts together another strong campaign, the cost only goes up and the competition for his services intensifies. More teams will line up to pursue him in 2027 free agency, and the Bears lose all the leverage they currently hold.

Not to mention Kyle Monangai is out week-to-week right now with a knee injury, a timeline that could extend into the regular season. That means Swift is due for early-season volume as the lead back and the Bears could do the right thing by offering him a pay bump now to reflect his early-season role.

The math works in the team’s favor too looking at a potential two-year extension. By the end of that deal, Swift would still be around 30-years-old, meaning he wouldn’t hit the typical age-related decline that scares teams away from long-term running back commitments.

It wouldn’t surprise me if this deal gets done

If the Bears view Swift as a long-term piece of Ben Johnson’s offense, the smart play is to work out a deal before the regular season and Ryan Poles prefers to work out deals before the actual games start.

Waiting only increases the price and the risk. Swift has proven he can be a featured back in this system, and locking him in at a rate below what the top of the market commands gives Chicago both stability and value at a position where costs keep rising.

The question now is whether Ryan Poles and the front office share that urgency, or whether they’d rather evaluate one more season before committing to Swift. If nothing gets done, it’ll also be worth scouting out replacement options in 2027.