Will Lions add running back to pair with D’Andre Swift?

The Detroit Lions know they have their starting running back for 2021. While questions continue to linger about their quarterback position, their lack of a receiver corps, and improving the NFL’s worst defense; D’Andre Swift‘s role in the offense seems all but secure.

The Lions made Swift their second-round selection in 2020. And he rewarded them by posting 521 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Swift also had 46 receptions for 357 yards and two more scores through the air.

Swift was able to post those numbers despite only starting in four games as a rookie. That was due to the surprising signing of veteran running back Adrian Peterson, who started 10 games for Detroit. Peterson would record 604 rushing yards and seven touchdowns before conceding the starting job to Swift late into the season.

With Peterson set to hit free agency next month, and his reported interest in joining quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccanneers (who isn’t?), the path is clear for Swift to take over the starting role permanently in Detroit. But the second-year back will not be alone.

Here’s what new Lions’ offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn said during a recent press conference when asked about his excitement to work with Swift within the Lions’ offense.

"“I think DeAndre [Swift] can be a three-down back. I like his versatility. There’s some things we can do with him in the passing game to get him a little more involved in that. I’m looking forward to working with this young man. We have to keep him on the field and I believe he wants to be on the field. We’ll find someone else to go with him, but I’m excited about what I saw on tape.”"

While it’s no secret that the Lions will add a running back to replace Peterson as they only carried three on their active roster last season, Lynn’s failure to mention Kerryon Johnson here is interesting.

While the phrase “find someone else to go with him” could simply mean Johnson will need to prove himself to this new coaching staff to earn that role, it’s also easy to see this as the team possibly moving on from the former 2018 second-rounder out of Auburn.

The 23-year old Johnson missed 14 games over his first two seasons in Detroit due to knee injuries. But he played all 16 games in 2020, starting in two of them.

Johnson recorded 181 rushing yards and three total scores while playing 29% of the offensive snaps. The third-year back did find a role as a pass protector on third downs.

Outside of Johnson, the Lions could certainly look to the draft to find a potential running mate for Swift. Some names to watch include Travis Etienne out of Clemson, Najee Harris from Alabama, Trey Sermon out of Ohio State, Demetric Felton from UCLA, plus Michael Carter and Javonte Williams out of North Carolina.

If Detroit opts to sign a free-agent running back, veterans like Malcolm Brown, Corey Clement, Kalen Ballage, Boston Scott, Ty Montgomery, and Dwayne Washington all have ties to the new regime in the Motor City. So they are worth keeping tabs on.

There’s no doubt the Detroit Lions will add running backs to the roster this offseason. And they’ll certainly be looking for someone to pair with D’Andre Swift in order to keep him healthy and on the field more. Entering the final year of his rookie contract in Detroit, Kerryon Johnson is scheduled to be in that mix. But it appears he’ll need to prove his worth to the new coaching staff in Motown.