The Detroit Lions were all over the place during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Their move to trade down from the No. 6 spot with the Arizona Cardinals, sending the No. 81 pick to the Cardinals in exchange for No. 12, No. 34 and No. 138 was thought of positively. But, when they came on the clock at No. 12 and made their pick, opinions shifted.
With the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Lions selected Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. It was the first true head-scratching selection as no mock draft had Gibbs being selected before the late 20s, when contenders would consider making such a luxury pick.
Gibbs is a dynamic player, but given how much the running back position has been devalued around the league, it was a head-scratching selection. Running back also wasn’t anywhere near the top of the Lions’ list of needs; it is one of their stronger positions on the roster.
After losing Jamaal Williams in free agency, Detroit brought in David Montgomery on a three-year deal. The team re-signed Craig Reynolds in free agency as well, while D’Andre Swift also remains on the roster.
That kind of logjam needs to be alleviated and it could come during the next two days of the draft. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN via Dov Kleiman on Twitter, the Lions are now receiving calls about a trade centered around Swift.
Swift has had some issues staying healthy throughout his career, as he is seemingly always battling some sort of nagging injury. All signs are pointing to his time in the Motor City as being done, as Gibbs offers a similar pass-catching skill set to him.
There are plenty of teams around the league who would love to add a dynamic playmaker such as Swift to the mix. The Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns could all use some help in the backfield. The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys could be suitors as well, as Swift should have a very strong trade market.
In his career, Swift has averaged 4.6 yards per carry and caught 156 passes in 40 games. A true dual-threat, he would be a solid pickup for any team looking to bolster their backfield as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
