Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman traded for Lions RB De’Andre Swift on Saturday in a move that has him excited to see what Swift can do playing for his hometown team.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to get Swift, bring him back to Philly,” Roseman said in his post-draft press conference, via team transcripts.
“He’s a guy that we’ve known for a long time. Even when he was in high school we were watching him. We knew what kind of player he was, watched him through college. Really excited for that opportunity here.”
Going into the 2023 NFL Draft Roseman said that the Eagles were happy with the “talented group” of running backs currently on the roster.
Then the Lions drafted RB Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall. Detroit already had signed David Montgomery and were now adding Gibbs, Swift became the odd man out.
Roseman figured it was a trade the Eagles couldn’t pass up.
“When they took Gibbs 12th, we thought maybe it was an opportunity. They signed Montgomery in free agency and they took Gibbs, and we knew (Swift) was in the last year of his deal,” he said.
“It wasn’t in our mind a position that we were actively looking to upgrade, but at the same time, we’re always looking for opportunities to improve the team. When this came about, we just felt really good about the player, we felt really good about the person, and it adds another tremendous player and person to our locker room.”
The 24 year-old Swift was a second-round pick in 2020 by the Lions. He has dealt with injuries in each season he’s played.
Swift has shown flashes of his dual-threat abilities. In the Lions and Eagles Week 1 matchup last season, the Eagles got a front row view of of his talent.
Swift exploded for a career-high 144 rushing yards and a TD on 15 carries, including one run that went for 50 yards.
With the Eagles, Swift will be competing for playing time with Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, Rashaad Penny, Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon.
Swift is the most talented running back on the Eagles roster and it will be very exciting to see him their offense.
Eagles RB De’Andre Swift. Photo courtsey of The New York Post
