The Detroit Lions turned some heads when they selected D'Andre Swift with the No. 35 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. While speaking to local reporters, Matthew Stafford spoke about Detroit drafting Swift this offseason:
“As a player goes, he's a back that can kind of do it all,” Stafford said of Swift, via the team's official website, who the Lions drafted in the second round (No. 35 overall) in last month's NFL Draft. “I think he does a good job out of the backfield catching the ball and making big plays. They handed it to him a bunch and he was doing a great job running with it.”
Prior to taking Swift in the second round, the Lions already had Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough at running back. But with Swift joining the mix, he figures to have a prominent role in the offense in 2020. The Lions' veteran quarterback shared his excitement for getting to work with the rookie back:
“I think it's huge,” Stafford said of the Lions adding Swift to their backfield. “In the NFL everybody, but especially running backs, get dinged up and beat up here and there throughout a season, and really throughout games. The more guys you can have back there that can carry the rock and do a good job for you the better off you're going to be.”
Of course, with Detroit's second-round pick playing his college football at Georgia, Stafford — a Georgia alum — caught many of the games that Swift played in. Given that, Stafford and Swift will have an immediate connection.
Since Stafford was drafted by the Lions in 2009, he's only had one 1,000-yard rusher (Reggie Bush in 2013). Maybe Swift can finally give the Pro Bowl quarterback some reliable production at the running back position.
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