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Chapter 1: What does DeAndre Swift say about his future with the Bears?
Bears running back DeAndre Swift is heading into the final year of his contract and is hoping to return to Chicago.
Swift told Jason Leisure of the Sun-Times the following quote, I have no idea, but hopefully I did enough for them to want me back because I know I'm I don't want to go anywhere else. I hope it plays itself out that way. I love the city. I love the coaching staff and love the men that I work with. That's out of my control. But if I had it my way, I'd be back. I don't want to play nowhere else.
So that's DeAndre Swift talking to the Sun-Times.
Chapter 2: How likely is it that Swift stays with the Bears in 2026?
On a scale of 1 to 10, on the newly created Bring That Man Back meter, where would you rate the likelihood that we see Swift playing in a Bears uniform in 2026?
Nine, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Like, what did we spend the entire pre-draft discussion doing last year? Trying to figure out whether or not the Bears wanted Ashton Genting.
And at the time, we saw that it was probably a referendum on DeAndre Swift, and knowing his history with Ben Johnson's offense in the Lions, we knew that there was a possibility they might go in a different direction because they did in Detroit. But in this case, the running back room wasn't the ultimate problem here. It's not the positions of need.
I understand that Swift is in the last year of a deal and it's very team friendly. But I think that might be penny wise and pound foolish to get rid of somebody who had a career year. After having a career year, the year before he came here when he was with Philadelphia.
Chapter 3: What are the implications of trading Tyson Bajent?
So... I understand why it's a possibility, and it's because of the writing of the contract, but I do not think that this is the right use of the Bears' effort or roster capital to get rid of him for a very small reason, to have a very big risk of the run game, which the offense is predicated on, not function as well as they would like. You've got it at nine. I'm going to say seven.
And here's why. I don't disagree with anything really that you said in terms of what the Bears got out of the running back position and that it was not an issue. And there's so many other issues they could upgrade or flat out correct between last season and next season. The reason I have it as a seven, so not quite as high, is because the cap hit is real. The $8 million dead cap is only 1.3.
They're looking for ways to probably save money.
Chapter 4: How does the Bears' running back situation impact their strategy?
And at age 27 going into the next season, that's when running backs get quote-unquote questionable. They are highly replaceable. The closer they get to 30 is the concern. Yeah, and so I could see... A way of them drafting maybe another running back, pairing them with Kyle Menungai and turning them loose and then saving $7 million of cap space.
Yeah, it's just Menungai doesn't have the same running profile and receiving profile that DeAndre Swift does. And that's why I like them together. But I think it might be harder to find a DeAndre Swift type than it is to just retain DeAndre Swift.
Number two, the Cardinals are rumored to be, quote unquote, intrigued by Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bajent. Would you be on board with the Bears trading Bajent?
Chapter 5: What are the latest rumors about Max Crosby and the Bears?
And if so, what would you expect in return?
Case Keenum's still out here, right? So, yeah, if Tyson Bajent can fetch you something, an undrafted free agent that you signed off the street and you can get, let's say, a third round pick for him. You know what? Scratch that. We'll call it a conditional second-round pick that becomes a third-rounder if he doesn't hit certain milestones, like if he doesn't start any games.
People are saying that like Bill Barnwell suggested like a third or fourth for DJ Moore. I know that's a cap hit thing. Yeah. But still.
Chapter 6: Why is the Bears' offensive performance a topic of concern?
Yeah. Tyson Bajan is that somebody might think Tyson Bajan could be a starter for them. I think the Raiders. So complimentary of him. If you're going to give somebody else a starting quarterback, second round pick sounds like a smart play. And I say conditional because if he doesn't end up being the starter, then you still get a third round pick.
If they got a second round pick for Tyson Bajan or a third, you trade. Period. You know how I feel about the Bears in third round picks. Dangerous.
Chapter 7: What are Danny Parkins' thoughts on the NBA landscape?
Smart thing by not drafting anybody in the third round last year. But now they might, under this condition, they would get an extra third round pick. Which scares me because of that. But that's a huge value if that's the case. I think the Bears signed Tyson Bajan to a contract they thought he was worth. I think that they understand...
He put in the work, and he does the most to get the most out of himself. But I also think that because of that, a lot of other NFL teams are pleasantly intrigued by him, too. It doesn't surprise me that the Cardinals are out here saying something. I think given the fact that the league had a third of it change head coaches...
Chapter 8: How does the conversation about Caleb Williams and Max Crosby unfold?
I bet there's another team that might be interested in his services as well for at least a stopgap measure until perhaps a new quarterback draft class is unveiled. You know, if you don't like this year's or you don't think your team is in the position to get somebody, Cardinals makes sense based on that timing.
So I think it's more of a compliment to Tyson Bajan and a compliment to the Bears roster choices and contract than it is necessarily Bajan. a statement about a team and where they may be at in the NFL. When there's that much turnover at the top of that many organizations, then they're going to want to bring in not only new people, but their own people. Right.
And there's a lot of musical chairs going around. There'll be people who are left out of this eventual musical chairs once the music stops. but also new opportunities for guys who maybe had a different role on one team and now a better role opens up on another team.
It's not unlike the coaches when you see a guy who was a linebacker's coach become a defensive coordinator for someone else or a receiver's coach or a quarterback coach become an offensive coordinator for someone else. It's a step up for everybody. Yeah, or if somebody's buying you time. I think Tyson Bajent is one of those guys who can buy you time.
Case Keenan, by the way, did just, as of yesterday, turn 38 years old. I don't even know that that matters anymore, given I saw Joe Flacco out here in the Unk Bowl. Joe Flacco was doing it. Joe Flacco versus Aaron Rodgers. So I don't even know that that's a concern at this point in time. Just flashback to Joe Flacco's appearance against the Bears last season. That's it.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So 40 is not a concerning number for a lot of quarterbacks. So I don't... When it's a problem for Case Keenum, I think he'll let us know. And in the meantime, if the Bears can get... a significant asset for Tyson Bajan, they should explore the possibility.
Secret agent, man. Five on it. Number three. This is five on it on 104.3 The Score with Laila Rahimi and Marshall Harris. Here's question number three. The Cubs are hoping infielder Matt Shaw can be their super utility player, which would include time in the outfield. Here's what Shaw told reporters about his outfield experience, courtesy of Marquee Sports Network.
Outfield's been a lot of fun. So I have a lot of experience out there just from being a younger kid, playing a lot of outfield. So it's been fun for sure. I mean, I played a ton, like, just growing up. I had two other brothers, so I played outfield for them all the time. Played outfield, summer ball, my freshman year, and then, you know, I've played here and there in college a little bit, too.
Yeah, that's Matt Shaw talking about his quote-unquote outfield experience. On a scale of 1 to 10 on the confidence meter, where would you rate your level of belief in Shaw's defensive ability in the outfield after hearing those comments? Why are you saying it like that? Because the text that I sent you guys when I sent this clip to you was, this don't do much for my confidence right here.
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