How the trade market for D’Andre Swift fully looked is unclear, but at least one other team was in and one team was out on making a deal.
D’Andre Swift may have been surprised the Detroit Lions traded him, and some may quibble with what can be seen as a poor return (2025 fourth-round pick). But there was absolutely no doubt he was on his way out when Jahmir Gibbs was drafted, as long as a suitable trade could be found. And truly, it probably wasn’t going to take much.
Right on cue last Friday morning, after the selection of Gibbs at No. 12 overall and with their leverage completely gone, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Lions were getting trade calls about Swift. It was only a matter of time before he was moved, and it happened on Day 3 of the draft sending him to the Philadelphia Eagles.
What other trade offers, if any, were out there for Swift will likely never be known.
Detroit Lions rumors: One team was in, one team was out on trading for D’Andre Swift
According to Brad Stainbrook of Orange and Brown Report, the Cleveland Browns had interest in Swift. They made our list of teams who could make an offer for Swift right before he was dealt.
FWIW, #Browns remain in the market for a backup running back. They’ve explored plenty of options this offseason, including players like D’Andre Swift. They’ve also touched base with younger players and vets on the free agency market, which remains the most likely option.
— Brad Stainbrook (@StainbrookNFL) May 1, 2023
The Los Angeles Rams were considered another possible landing spot for Swift. But according to Jake Ellenbogen of Downtown Rams, the Lions called the Rams about trading for Swift and the Rams declined.
That Lions general manager Brad Holmes made that call, with his many years working for the Rams as a tie, is not surprising. It’s also not necessarily surprising the Rams weren’t willing to pursue a deal for Swift very much. For depth behind Cam Akers, they instead took running back Zach Evans in the sixth round of the draft.
One team was seemingly fairly well in (the Browns), and one team was basically immediately out (the Rams). That feels like a perfect reflection of what Swift’s trade market was, and what looks to be a split league-wide perception of him.
The Lions went from one side to the other of that perception over the course of the last year, while the Eagles were teased by his Week 1 showing last season. So it’s fair to say theirs was the best offer, assuming they were not the only team to make one.