Aprimary reason the Chicago Bears lost to the Minnesota Vikings Week 1 was because they lost at the line of scrimmage.
For all the talk about Ben Johnson bringing balance and creativity the offense, the running game in particular felt toothless. D’Andre Swift looked bottled up all night, grinding out 53 yards on 17 carries (that’s just 3.1 yards per carry), and quarterback Caleb Williams finished as the team’s leading rusher with 58 yards. That’s simply not sustainable.
While Roschon Johnson is trending the right way on the injury report and rookie Kyle Monangai may get an increased workload soon, neither puts fear into opposing defenses. Swift has yet to establish himself, either.
That’s why we think the Bears should consider a trade swap: Swift for Alvin Kamara. At 5-foot-10 and 215-pounds, Kamara has a slightly bigger build than the 5-foot-8, 204-pound Swift, but unlike anyone currently toting the rock for the Bears, Kamara would actually stress some defenses out.
Kamara Has Established Himself as an Elite Pass-Catching RB
After being named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017, Kamara went to five straight Pro Bowls and earned second-team All-Pro honors twice.
His accolades impress, but what’s most impressive about Kamara is how steady he’s played as he’s aged. He began his career with six straight seasons amassing at least 1,300 total yards, and he hasn’t slowed down much in the years since.
In 2023, despite serving a three-game suspension to start the year, he still posted 1,160 scrimmage yards in only 13 games. Then, in 2024, he had 1,493 scrimmage yards (950 rushing, 543 receiving) on nearly 300 touches, even after missing three contests late in the season.
Kamara may not be the dominant star he was five years ago, but he’s still one of the most reliable dual-threat backs in football—and reliability is exactly what Chicago’s backfield needs.
What Kind of Trade Might Bring Alvin Kamara to the Chicago Bears?
GettyShould the Chicago Bears try trading for RB Alvin Kamara?
Johnson loves dual-threat backs, and Kamara has five years of 70-plus targets out of the backfield on his resume. He also has the pass protection chops to stay on the field in every situation. Swift offers burst, but Kamara brings the steadiness of a chain-mover who keeps the playbook wide open.
Johnson didn’t sugarcoat his team’s Week 1 problems with the run, either. “We’ve got to be better running the football, plain and simple,” the Bears coach said on September 10. “If we’re behind the sticks all night, we’re putting Caleb in a bad spot, and that’s not how we want to play.”
So, what might a realistic trade proposal look like? Here’s our take:
- Bears get: RB Alvin Kamara
- Saints get: RB D’Andre Swift, 2026 sixth-round pick
Financially, adding Kamara wouldn’t be as daunting as it may seem. The Saints RB is under contract through 2026 on a two-year, $24.5 million extension he signed last October. His 2025 cap hit sits just over $10 million, with a base salary under $3 million. Swapping out Swift’s $9.3 million cap hit would also help the situation.
For the Saints, a post–June 1 trade would leave dead money on the books but still free more than $7 million in cap space, giving them flexibility in a transitional year. For Chicago, the cash outlay is manageable—especially for a player who could help stabilize their offense.
It’s early in the season, but teams that are serious about winning are always looking to make themselves better (see: the Philadelphia Eagles). Adding a player like Kamara would show that the Bears are serious.
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