Bear Digest

Senior Bowl Backs for Bears to Explore as D'Andre Swift's Competition

Penn State's two running backs and a few others at the Senior Bowl can show Bears scouts who could push D'Andre Swift in the final year of his contract.
Gene Chamberlain|
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton pushes ahead for yardage against Rutgers.
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton pushes ahead for yardage against Rutgers. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

The D'Andre Swift scrutiny began very early before the Bears even reported for OTAs in 2025 and the veteran back responded with his best season.

Congratulations, and the scrutiny begins all over again now with the Senior Bowl. It's not a knock on Swift or what he achieved as an all-around performer and Bears starter, but a reality of the position he plays because new, young talent at cheaper prices is always coveted.

"I think I've been championing that cause every step of the way," coach Ben Johnson said late this season. "I felt from the outside a need to or a desire to bring more into the running back room, and I felt like our guys were pretty darn strong. Both him and (Kyle) Monangai have turned into a pretty formidable unit there."

At age 28 in the 2026 season, Swift will be going into Year 7 with more peak time left in the league.

Swift isn't making so much money that he'd be considered a drag on the Bears' salary cap in 2026, so discussion of how he is dispensable is nonsensical.

What isn't nonsense is how teams will always look for special players who carry the ball, and there are a few in the draft. Considering how Roschon Johnson went from 136 rushing attempts in his first two years to two under Johnson, it is safe to say they'd look to add competition in their running backs room, if not pursue one of the more elite players just to give defenses something more to consider.

A back who runs with speed similar or better than Swift but is a good receiver and blocker and blends the type of power Kyl Monangai has would be a much better threat for Johnson to have on those fourth-and-short plays because their breakaway ability could force defenses into backing off the line.

Translated: If Johnson saw his new Jahmyr Gibbs somewhere, he'd love the chance to make the pick.

The draft is almost always the preferred option to find backs over free agency because prices are far too high in free agency and you might even get someone more talented. You can maximize the value and by the time a back is a free agent, they may have already used up their best years.

Unlike at many positions, this week's Senior Bowl affords the Bears opportunities for closer looks at some of the higher quality backs, thanks largely to the decisions of Penn State's two running backs who at least showed interest in this process. Whether they actually carry the ball in Saturday's game is another thing entirely, however. Usually top ball playmakers who participate in practices are not found among the game day participants.

There are a few good backs at Mobile, Ala. and a contingent best described as much less special.

Here are the top backs to watch for the Bears at the Senior Bowl and, unlike with  many of the positions, their performances in the actual game are probably more critical than the practices. They actually can show in the games how they handle getting hit by live defenses.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 4,180 on 769 carries for his four-year career say he's a proven all-purpose and explosive threat, and his 3.8 yards per reception in 2025 was a rather fluky number as he had 7.0 yards per catch in his career -- he just didn't get as many receiving opportunities. The 5-foot-11, 220-pounder has size and speed to be an NFL starter an is No. 5 on Mel Kiper's list for backs in this year's draft and fourth for ESPN colleague Matt Miller.

Nick Singleton, Penn State

A few injuries and a spectacular season by Allen shuffled him back into the running back pack after he had been among the top three in the offseason watch lists and He's still a real pro threat at 6-foot, 221, with breakaway speed. He had two 1,000-yard seasons, 3,461 yards on 622 attempts total and was extremely dangerous as a receiver with a 9.7-yard average on 102 career receptions and nine TDs. No. 2 on Matt Miller's top running backs list, like any running back in college he comes in showing he needs to learn to be a pass blocker.

Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma

Before he was plagued by injuries in his only Oklahoma season and final year at California in 2024, Ott was an explosive performer. He led the Pac-12 in 2023 in rushing with 1,315 yards and as a freshman in 2022 was a big part of the passing game with 46 receptions for a 7.5-yard average. At 5-foot-10 3/4, 202 pounds, he's obviously not a power back type but a big-play maker. Pro Football Focus has him rated the 13th best back in this draft and third best in the Senior Bowl. The week could serve to remind people who he was before nagging injuries.

"Ott is a very well-rounded running back prospect," Pro Football Focus' Trevor  Sikkema wrote. "When he's healthy, there just aren't many things he doesn't do well."

Seth McGowan, Kentucky

Rated at No. 147 on the Mock Draft Data Base big board, McGowan is a perfect example of a back who can benefit from work at Mobile this week. He played for Kentucky, New Mexico State and way back in 2020 at Oklahoma. His career wasn't derailed by injury but by something worse. He pled guilty to larceny charges and served a year probation while other charges against him were dismissed following reported involvement with two other Oklahoma football team members in trying to rob a man who refused to sell them marijuana. Besides probation, he was ordered to 60 hours of community service and to pay $250 to a victims compensation fund. McGowan, who is 5-11 1/2, 215, gained 370 yards at Oklahoma in 2020. When he resurfaced as a player for New Mexico State in 2024 he gained 823 yards and last season at Kentucky had 725 yards but just 4.4 yards a carry. With only 375 college rushing attempts and 55 receptions, scouts understandably want to see more proof of ability.

Adam Randall, Clemson

A huge back (6-2 1/2, 233) who might be of more interest to other teams besides the Bears based on how Johnson has used players in his past. NFL Mock Draft Data Base has him at No. 156 for its big board. His college career essentially consisted of one season as a running back and showed great potential because he had 814 yards on 168 attempts. The real kicker to his career is he was a wide receiver until 2025, and that's how he wound up being a player so large playing in the backfield. His receiving ability showed up with 36 catches for 254 yards and three TDs as a back last year. A real curiosity piece who might be looked at by scouts at other positions besides running back.

Mike Washington, Arkansas

The No. 160 player on the latest Mock Draft Data Base big board, most of his career was spent in the MAC with Buffalo splitting time. He made most of one season at Arkansas with 1,070 yards on 167 runs last year, and 28 receptions for an 8.1-yard average. He played three years at Buffalo with 263 attempts for 1,119 yards and 10 TDs, before a year at New Mexico State when he gained 725 yards, and then the final season in the SEC.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.