Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions reportedly are receiving trade calls on running back D’Andre Swift after the team drafted running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
The move to take Gibbs at No. 12 was a puzzling one from Detroit, as the team may have reached for the former University of Alabama star and already entered the draft with a deep running back room.
Swift, a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (35th overall), is likely the odd man out for the Lions as they prepare for the 2023 season. Detroit signed veteran running back David Montgomery in free agency and let Jamaal Williams walk.
There’s been a bit of turnover for the Lions’ running back room, and a Swift trade would mean that there is even more.
In 12 games for the Crimson Tide last season, Gibbs carried the ball 151 times for 926 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. He also added 44 receptions for an additional 444 yards and three scores.
He’s an elite athlete, and it seems that the Lions front office prefers him over Swift based on Thursday night’s pick.
Swift has been injury-prone during his NFL career, never appearing in more than 14 games in his first three seasons. Playing in 14 games in the 2022 campaign, Swift received a career-low 99 carries despite averaging a career-best 5.5 yards per carry.
Part of Swift’s decline in usage was due to Williams’ emergence. It looks like both the Lions and Swift could benefit from ending their partnership.
The injuries are certainly a concern for any team looking to add Swift, but he has been a productive player in both the running and passing games in his NFL career.
Across three seasons, Swift has racked up 1,680 rushing yards on just 364 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and 18 rushing touchdowns. As a pass catcher, Swift has made 156 catches (at least 46 in every season) for 1,198 yards and an additional seven scores.
He’s a very versatile player that could work well in a committee to limit his chances of getting injured.
It will be interesting to see if Swift lands with a new team before the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.
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