Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Lions could reportedly trade big-name player after first-round draft choice

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 4/28/23

The Detroit Lions drafted former Alabama star running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick on Thursday night, and some have wondered what that means for D’Andre Swift’s future with the team. We may have our answer.

The Lions have received calls from teams that have interest in potentially trading for Swift, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. That may be the outcome Swift wants, as his representatives have also had discussions with the Lions about moving on.

Sources: The #Lions are receiving trade calls on running back D’Andre Swift, whose representatives have been in contact with the team about potentially moving to a new team. With Detroit drafting Jahmyr Gibbs, the talented Swift appears poised to leave Detroit. pic.twitter.com/Rkf16dylaL

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 28, 2023

Swift was viewed as a breakout candidate in his third NFL season, but the Lions did not give him the workload that many expected them to. A big reason for that is that the former Georgia star has struggled to stay healthy since Detroit drafted him in the second round back in 2020.

Swift finished with 931 total scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns last season. While those numbers are not terrible, the stat line was a disappointment after some thought he would be the focal point of Detroit’s offense.

The Lions’ decision to draft Gibbs likely means they either plan to trade Swift or continue to limit his touches. Perhaps a fresh start would be best for both sides.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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