ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Detroit Lions are taking trade calls on veteran running back D’Andre Swift following their surprise pick in the 2023 draft’s first round on Thursday night — after selecting a similarly-skilled talent in former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall, the expectation is that Detroit will part ways with Swift.
Could he join his old teammate Jamaal Williams with the New Orleans Saints? The Saints are on the hunt for improved running back depth behind Alvin Kamara and Williams, and Swift is a player who was compared to Kamara at times earlier in his career (Lions head coach Dan Campbell said as much when he took the job). Swift may not welcome a trade to New Orleans so eagerly, seeing as he’d be the third player on the depth chart, but it could be a good opportunity for him.
Swift turned 24 in January and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. That means any team trading for him will be on the hook for just $1,774,397 in his base salary this season, and he’ll hit free agency in 2024. At the same time, Kamara’s 2024 salary cap hit will swell to more than $18.8 million, so filling in for Kamara during the suspension he’s expected to receive could be Swift’s audition to replace him.
But the Saints should try and draft a rookie first. Getting fresh legs in the building without Swift’s injury history on an inexpensive four-year contract would make more sense for them. It’s too soon to say they should move on from Kamara, too, and trading a pick or player for Swift wouldn’t be the best use of resources. It’s a situation they should monitor but maybe not wade into unless the price makes sense.
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