ALLEN PARK — In a move that was expected, the Detroit Lions traded running back D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
The move was in the cards once the Lions drafted running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round on Thursday night. Lions GM Brad Holmes chose his words carefully after that pick, pointing out that Swift was still on the roster.
Like Swift, Gibbs is a threat out of the backfield. Last season at Alabama he rushed for 926 yards with seven touchdowns and had 44 receptions for 444 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
The Lions acquired 25-year-old veteran running back David Montgomery in free agency and lost Jamaal Williams who signed with the Saints.
In return for the trade to the Eagles, the Lions will swap seventh-round picks today (Saturday), moving up to 219th from 249th and receive a fourth-round pick in 2025.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman told ESPN: “(Swift’s) got big-play ability as a runner and a receiver. We saw it first-hand when we were in Detroit the first game of the season.”
The 24-year-old Swift, who was drafted by Detroit with the third pick in the second round in 2020, finished his three seasons (39 games) with 364 carries for 1,680 yards (4.6 yards per carry), 18 rushing touchdowns and 156 receptions for 1,198 yards and seven receiving TDs.
He returns to his hometown of Philadelphia where he attended St. Joseph’s Prep before playing college ball at Georgia.
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