The Detroit Lions shocked the world when they selected Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th-overall pick, and many believe this might lead to a D’Andre Swift trade. Swift, a former second-round pick, fell down Detroit’s depth chart last year, but he’s an effective player when on the field and should be able to find a suitor at some point the NFL Draft.
A D’Andre Swift Trade Feels Inevitable After Jahmyr Gibbs Pick
The Writing’s On the Wall
The Lions did a lot of weird stuff during the 2023 NFL Draft, and general manager Brad Holmes answered a few questions regarding the strange picks following the conclusion of Day 1. When asked about Swift’s future with the team, Holmes’ answer didn’t exactly inspire confidence in his long-term outlook.
“I mean, D’Andre is still on our roster. He’s still a part of our team, he’s still under contract with us. He’s a dynamic football player. So, it hasn’t really changed the math there yet, but it’s early. So it didn’t really change, we just put Jahmyr in his own separate box and juts got really excited about the player, didn’t have any bearing on D’Andre.”
Lions GM Brad Holmes on RB D'Andre Swift:
"Yeah, I mean, D'Andre, he's still on our roster. He's still part of our team. He's still under contract with us. He's a dynamic football player. So, (the Gibbs pick) hasn't really changed the math there yet, but, you know, it is early."
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) April 28, 2023
It’s never a great sign when the first thing a general manager says is that a player is still on the roster. While Holmes eventually made it around to the false praise portion of the interview, it’s clear from both his tone and the way in which he answered the question that the team would probably be willing to trade D’Andre Swift.
Of course, actions speak louder than words, and Detroit’s offseason moves heavily imply Swift is on the way out. While the Jahmyr Gibbs pick obviously shows a lack of confidence in the current depth chart, this wasn’t significant resource the team poured into the position. The team signed David Montgomery to a pretty sizable deal, seemingly to fill the role of the departed Jamaal Williams. So, if the Lions have their early-down thumper and their explosive pass-catcher, then where does that leave D’Andre Swift?
The answer is likely another roster. Swift obviously hasn’t played up to expectations in Detroit, but he’s still a fine running back capable of making plays as both a runner and a receiver. Somebody will take a risk on his talent, especially if it comes at a discounted price.
Possible D’Andre Swift Trade Destinations
D’Andre Swift is entering the final year of his contract, so it’s safe to assume that the Lions won’t be able to get too much for the former second-round pick. Additionally, every team in the league should at least have a passing interest in Swift, as he’s only 24 and if he balls out and leaves in free agency, they could receive a compensatory pick greater than the one they gave to acquire him.
Thanks to both his high cap hit and his pending legal troubles, the Cincinnati Bengals will probably move on from Joe Mixon once they find an adequate replacement. Cincinnati would be unwise to put all of their faith in Swift, but sending over a late-round pick and pairing him with somebody like Devon Achane would make a lot of sense for everyone involved. Alternatively, the Dallas Cowboys have yet to reach a long-term deal with running back Tony Pollard. Perhaps they could acquire D’Andre Swift, keep him as a much-needed backup in 2023 and use this final year of his rookie contract to see if he could potentially be a more cost-effective starter.
The New England Patriots were rumored to be interested in selecting one of the top running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, they never had a chance, as both Gibbs and Bijan Robinson were off the board before the Patriots were on the clock. Rhamondre Stevenson is a great player, but Bill Belichick likes having multiple starting-caliber running backs, and the team does not have good depth. Acquiring D’Andre Swift via trade would be a smart move, and nobody likes buying low on veterans quite like Belichick.
Main Photo: Lon Horwedel – USA Today Sports
