Best Case Scenarios
Scenario #1:
Would you rather… have D’Andre Swift win Offensive Rookie of the Year, or Jeff Okudah win Defensive Player of the Year?
On the one hand, the Lions probably ‘need’ Okudah to be a star at his position more than Swift at his. There’s the level of expectation that comes with the territory of being picked so high, and the consensus is that Okudah should immediately be the best corner the Lions have.
If he has a great rookie season, it’s a huge feather in Bob Quinn’s cap and validation that he made the ‘right’ choice among plenty of solid options, especially considering the Darius Slay trade that depleted the secondary this spring.
However, if it’s D’Andre Swift who stands out from the pack, it has mouthwatering implications for the rest of Detroit’s offense. Remember, up until Matthew Stafford’s injury, this was one of the best passing attacks in the league, and they return just about everyone at the skill positions.
Adding Swift to what it is already a pretty good unit and then seeing him shine would likely mean having a top five offense for the first time in a decade.
My Answer: Swift winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. I’m biased towards offense.