The Philadelphia Eagles were forced to part ways with running back Miles Sanders this past offseason, as the 2022 Pro Bowler signed a four-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
In order to soften the blow, the Eagles swung a trade to acquire D’Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions, sending a couple of draft picks to the Lions in exchange for the halfback.
Swift joined a Philadelphia backfield that also includes Kenneth Gainwell, who opened the 2023 campaign as Philly’s featured back before succumbing to a rib injury in a Week 1 win over the New England Patriots.
Due to Gainwell’s injury, Swift took the reigns as the lead rusher in Week 2, racking up 175 yards and a touchdown off of 28 carries. The Eagles topped the Minnesota Vikings for a 34-28 Thursday night victory. It was certainly an unexpected performance for the 24-year-old, who totaled 542 yards and five scores during his final season in Detroit last year.
Whether or not Swift can maintain that elite level of production remains to be seen, but if Philadelphia ultimately sees Gainwell as its top running back for the future, could the club ultimately entertain the idea of trading Swift?
Enter the Indianapolis Colts, who are embroiled in a contract dispute with star back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor is sidelined for the first four games of the 2023 campaign as a result of an ankle injury he suffered last season, but even when the 2021 All-Pro gets healthy, whether or not he actually suits up for the Colts is another story.
Taylor demanded a trade from Indianapolis when the team declined to give him a contract extension, so his days as a Colt could be numbered. For that reason, Indy is surely in the market for a running back (it’s hard to imagine the Colts will be relying on Zack Moss).
Could the Colts convince the Eagles to part ways with Swift if they offer a 2024 third-round draft pick?
Of course, Philadelphia is likely in wait-and-see mode with D’Andre Swift. The defending NFC champions will certainly not be in a rush to move the University of Georgia product given what he just did in Week 2. However, if Swift’s outing against the Vikings turns out to be something of a fluke, the Eagles could consider the possibility of trading Swift to clear the way for Gainwell. If that occurs, Indianapolis would be a fine destination.
