Ben Johnson Would Be Wise to Utilize Underrated Player in 2026

The NFL draft has officially wrapped up, and teams are beginning to get together for OTAs and summer practices to get ready for the 2026 season.

For the Chicago Bears, last season was really a breakout time for them. Under new head coach Ben Johnson, the team excelled and finished No. 1 in the NFC North.

In a piece for NFL.com out on Tuesday, May 26, Tom Blair lists the most underrated players in the NFC heading into the new season. “In a 32-team league with 53-man rosters, it’s impossible to properly praise all quality contributors,” he states. “But as we head into summer — the NFL’s slow season — it’s a perfect time to check some of those boxes.”

For the Bears, he names running back D’Andre Swift as one of their most underappreciated players.

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While Blair says he almost gave the honor to “Swift’s junior backfield partner, Kyle Monangai,” the latter “could be considered slightly below the radar, but Swift has been around, accumulating the public expectations that come with being part of multiple headline-making transactions.”

He adds: “Sure, there are plenty of miles on the odometer, and his contract doesn’t go beyond the upcoming season, but he still averaged 5.39 yards per touch in 2025, eighth among all players with a minimum of 150 touches. He still scored 10 total TDs, most on the team.”

My Take: What D’Andre Swift Brings to the Bears

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Johnson has history with Swift. The two worked together for three seasons when they were both at the Detroit Lions, so Swift being in Chicago brings a consistency to Johnson’s coaching scheme. Swift is an extremely talented running back, and it’s a head-scratcher why he hasn’t gotten more attention, but regardless, Johnson better not let him go after the end of this season, because he’s become an integral part of the Bears’ lineup.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 9:05 AM.