D’Andre Swift is somehow surprised the Detroit Lions traded him

The writing appeared to be on the wall regarding the possible move, but D’Andre Swift is somehow surprised the Detroit Lions traded him.

A report doubting his future in Detroit. Head coach Dan Campbell saying they had to “start over” in terms of a plan to keep him on the field. An upgrade pivot from Jamaal Williams to David Montgomery in free agency. And, finally, drafting Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall in last week’s draft.

The most consistent thing about D’Andre Swift over his three years as a Lion was being banged up. There can be some issue taken with an unwillingness to give him more work. But within the idea of trying to keep him available on a week-to-week basis, it made sense. Campbell’s aforementioned comments at the NFL Combine reeked of frustration, for those who cared to see it. The Lions’ head coach does not hide such things well.

The writing appeared to be on the wall regarding Swift’s future as a Detroit Lion, even if some people (fans) didn’t care to see it.

Count Swift in the category of people who didn’t care to see it. So he says, at least.

D’Andre Swift can say he was surprised the Lions traded him, but he can’t truly believe it

Swift had his introductory press conference with Eagles’ media on Wednesday. He thanked Detroit for everything during his time there, with all the expected sentiment about being traded to his hometown team and the reigning NFC champions.

But this quote about the trade stuck out.

"It was a surprise,”  “There really was no explanation. Everything went through my agent. A lot of different emotions going up and down.”"

Last Friday morning, after the pick of Gibbs and unsurprisingly to most, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported trade calls were coming and Swift’s agent was working with the Lions to move him to a new team. The trade of course came the next day, not coincidentally to the Eagles, a presumed preferred destination for Swift if he had one.

The whole situation was surely a whirlwind for Swift, and he was very respectful of his time with the Lions. He wasn’t (and isn’t ever) going to say “yeah, I thought I’d be traded.” But he can’t genuinely have been surprised it happened. The Lions made it very clear they were ready to move on, to the point they actively took away all of their trade leverage before the first round of the draft was over.