The NFL Draft concluded on Saturday. While players’ names were announced and dreams of former college players became reality, there was one very intriguing trade announced. The Detroit Lions moved running back D’Andre Swift of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a seventh round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a seventh round pick in 2023. With the seventh round picks, the Lions selected wide receiver Antoine Green out of the University of North Carolina 219th overall, and the Eagles selected defensive end Moro Ojomo out of the University of Texas.
Swift is joining his second NFL franchise after three seasons with the Lions. In 2022, he had 99 rushes for 542 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Swift also had 48 catches for 389 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. In his three-year NFL career, Swift has 364 rushes for 1680 rushing yards, and 18 rushing touchdowns, along with 156 catches for 1198 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches.
The trade by Detroit comes at a time when the National Football League suspended four Lions last month for gambling. It was a very promising end to the Lions’s 2022 regular season as they finished the year over .500 at nine wins and eight losses. Now as we approach the 2023 regular season, the Lions are entering the year with not as much optimism.
There was one other player trade on Saturday. The Denver Broncos acquired tight end Adam Trautman and a seventh round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the New Orleans Saints for a sixth round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Saints selected wide receiver A.T. Perry out of Wake Forest, and the Broncos selected center Alex Forsyth out of Oregon.
Trautman, a native of Williamsburg, Michigan, has a history with new Broncos head coach Sean Payton. In 2022, Trautman had 18 catches for 207 receiving yards and one touchdown. His major score was a 22 yard catch from Taysum Hill in a 39-32 Saints win over the Seattle Seahawks on October 9. Trautman also has 60 catches for 641 receiving yards and four touchdown catches in 43 games.
