Detroit Lions Draft: Quinn selects a franchise running back in D’Andre Swift
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions finally make a bold pick. The ever so conservative Bob Quinn decided to make a splash selecting D’Andre Swift with the 35th pick in the NFL Draft.
After failing to find a trade partner for the third pick in the NFL Draft, Detroit went ahead and selected a future All-Pro corner in Jeff Okudah. Of course, as many fans do, the Detroit Lions received some pushback on social media for failing to trade back and select Okudah a handful of picks later.
That left the Detroit Lions to ponder who’d be available when they’d be on the clock with the 35th pick. It’s a deep draft, we knew whoever the Lions decided to pick would be a first-round talent in the second round, but I never expected that Bob Quinn would take a running back here.
It’s a running back class littered with talent, and the Detroit Lions may have just picked the most talented back coming out. The only running back selected before Detroit choosing Swift had been Clyde Edwards-Helaire by the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Cheifs with the 32nd pick.
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If I’m candid, I fully expected the Detroit Lions would use the 35th pick on an edge rusher, perhaps A.J. Epenesa or Yetur Gross-Matos. Quinn decided to provide Matthew Stafford with an elite running back for the first time in his career.
It’s an excellent pick for the Lions if you enjoy offense. With Kerryon Johnson has battled injuries throughout his entire football career and losing half of the season due to injury over his first two professional seasons, the Lions decided to solidify the running back position with the very explosive Swift. Detroit can use Johnson in more of a change of pace role, hopefully limiting his usage, helping him to remain healthy. Bo Scarborough will likely serve as Detroit’s power back in short-yardage situations.
Swift is a three-down back, which benefits any offense. He will provide the Detroit Lions with a skill-set that has the potential to mirror someone like Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara. While his receiving production isn’t to that level yet, he has displayed that type of potential. It’s hard to expect those results immediately, but that is the style in which Swift plays.
Swift will be the best running back in Detroit since Barry Sanders.
Next. Jeff Okudah a perfect pick. dark
With the Georgia Bulldogs, Swift rushed for 2885 yards scoring 20 touchdowns on the ground with 440 carries, suitable for a stellar 6.6 yards per carry. Swift also chipped in with 73 catches totaling 666 yards and five touchdowns.