After the Jahmyr Gibbs pick, there could be some bad blood brewing in the Detroit Lions running back room this season….
The Detroit Lions may have a logjam at running back in the 2023 season, and if push comes to shove, one player is ready to pack his bags and find another team.
Following the Lions’ shocking Jahmyr Gibbs pick, the franchise could be subtly signaling a desire to shake up its ball-carrying unit. Detroit declined to extend Jamaal Williams earlier this offseason and picked up free agent David Montgomery instead, signing him to a three-year, $18 million contract.
Could D’Andre Swift get the same treatment?
After the first round of the NFL Draft, Lions general manager Brad Holmes told reporters that Swift is “still on our roster” and “still part of our team,” noting that he was a very “dynamic” football player.
Yet just one day after Detroit took Gibbs at 12th overall, the Lions have reportedly received calls about a potential Swift trade.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Swift’s representation has been in touch with the franchise about the possibility of trading Swift to another team.
Out with D’Andre Swift, in with Jahmyr Gibbs is the current Lions trend
Swift is only 24 years old and came off a down year in which he recorded a career-low 99 carries but still ran for 542 yards and posted 389 receiving yards; he finished with an efficient 5.5 yards per carry in 2022.
The 2020 second-rounder was drafted in an era prior to that of Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, a slight indication that the Lions don’t hold much loyalty toward him and could be looking for a total remodeling of the position.
Swift suffered from multiple injuries this past campaign but has played in 13 games or more in each of his three NFL seasons. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract, set to make just 1.8 million next season, and would embody a budget dual-threat option for any interested team.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos are two teams that could be in the market for Swift; if the Lions do put their workhorse back on the trading block, it’ll be interesting to see what he’ll command.
Given the nature of the running back position, Swift may receive no more than a third- or fourth-rounder and something else of value. He played a crucial role in the backfield in the Lions’ sustained success last season particularly in the end zone, so our initial gut reaction is that Detroit will want to see if they can keep him for at least the 2023 season.
