By Jeff Howe, Colton Pouncy, Zach Berman, Nick Baumgardner and Bo Wulf
The Athletic has live coverage of the 49ers vs Eagles in NFL Week 13 action.
The Lions traded running back D’Andre Swift to the Eagles in exchange for a 2025 fourth-rounder and a 2023 seventh-round pick swap Saturday, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
- Detroit traded to select RB Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 on Thursday.
- Swift has played in 40 games since being drafted No. 35 in the 2020 draft. He’s rushed for 1,680 yards and 18 touchdowns in that span.
- Eagles leading rusher Miles Sanders signed with the Panthers this offseason.
The Lions got a fourth-rounder in 2025 and move up in the seventh round today in a pick swap, per source. Eagles get Swift.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 29, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Why the Lions made the move
When the Lions selected Alabama’s Gibbs in the first round Thursday evening, it appeared the writing was on the wall for Swift. A 2020 second-round pick, Swift was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal with the Lions. GM Brad Holmes has a history of trading players before their contracts expire. Given his durability issues, in addition to money given to free-agent RB David Montgomery, it was hard to envision Swift’s long-term fit in Detroit — and that was well before the draft unfolded.
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Holmes spoke to local media Thursday evening and was asked about Swift. He had the following to say: “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.”
Not exactly a ringing endorsem*nt. Holmes ultimately made the move, picking up a 2025 fourth-rounder while swapping seventh-round picks with the Eagles. This feels like a good move for both parties. — Pouncy
Why the Eagles wanted Swift
The Eagles like to target players on the last year of their rookie contracts who might have become expendable by the team that drafted them. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jordan Howard and Tim Jernigan are recent examples. Swift is a swing at a player who was a high second-round pick, is only 24, and has big-play ability. He’s a Philadelphia native (and he went to Georgia, which you might have noticed is a feeder to the Eagles…) and there are touches available in an unsettled depth chart. It’s unlikely the Eagles would have found a more talented running back on Day 3 of the draft.
So the logic the team applies is that they bring in someone who’s fallen out of favor elsewhere and the expected value could be higher than what they would get from a running back that they use a draft pick to acquire. If it works, he can either sign a contract extension with the team or potentially aid their compensatory pick formula if he leaves in free agency. But the intention is to plug an immediate need. — Berman
GO DEEPERGrading the trade: Eagles send picks to Lions, buy low on explosive RB D'Andre SwiftWhat this means for Detroit, Philadelphia
The reality of Detroit’s situation is this: In 2022, the Lions tied with the Eagles for the NFL’s sixth-best number when it came to adjusted line yards — or, rushing yards specifically created by the offensive line. The Lions were 15th in second-level yards, per FootballOutsiders. The Eagles were second. The difference, in Detroit’s opinion, was on running backs Jamaal Williams and Swift.
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Detroit entered this draft looking to upgrade at RB and did so with Gibbs in round one. The Lions were interested in re-signing Williams, but not at the price he wanted – thus, they moved forward with a younger option in Montgomery.
The Eagles will get a motivated young back (from Philly) in Swift and Detroit will hope to better maximize an offensive line it believes an awful lot in. — Baumgardner
How Swift fits with Eagles
The Eagles replaced their leading rusher last year, Sanders, with the talented but oft-injured Rashaad Penny. The Eagles were the most efficient rushing team in the league last season, thanks in large part to an elite offensive line and the presence of Jalen Hurts as a rusher and rushing threat. Because of that, it’s fair to call their offense the most running back-friendly in the league. Now, Swift joins a backfield with Penny, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott, while offering the most explosive upside of them all. The Eagles saw that explosiveness up close in Week 1 last year when Swift ran for 144 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against them. The cost brings to mind past trades for Jay Ajayi and Howard. — Wulf
GO DEEPEREagles trade for D'Andre Swift, draft Kelee Ringo to keep Georgia connection goingRequired reading
- NFL Draft 2023 rounds 4-7 LIVE: D’Andre Swift trade reaction, picks, grades and best available players
- NFL Draft picks 2023: Rounds 4-7 results, complete list of selections
- Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft picks 2023: Grades, fits and scouting reports
- Detroit Lions NFL Draft picks 2023: Grades, fits and scouting reports
(Photo: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)
