The Detroit Lions delivered a surprise when they drafted Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick on Thursday night.
No one thought the Lions would draft a running back since they already had D’Andre Swift and signed David Montgomery to a three-year deal last month.
However, with Gibbs in the fold, ESPN is reporting that Detroit is now getting calls from Swift, who is apparently available in a potential trade.
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D’Andre Swift of the Detroit Lions runs the ball during the second quarter in a game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on January 1, 2023 in Detroit. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Swift representatives have been in touch with the Lions about a possible trade, so it looks like Swift will have a new home soon.
The Lions seemed pretty excited to grab Gibbs, who they felt would not have gotten to them with their second pick of the night at No. 18 overall.
Gibbs even admitted that he was surprised to have been selected so soon because running backs hadn’t been inside the top 20 since 2018.
«I feel great,» Gibbs said. «I didn’t know I would be drafted as high as I did because running backs don’t get drafted as high in this new era and new era of the NFL draft. But it was pretty shocking to me. But I’m grateful to the city of Detroit.»
Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats on December 31, 2022 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
IMPRESSIVE SELECTION OF JAHMYR GIBBS ALABAMA LIONS SENDS SOCIAL MEDIA INTO A FRANZY
Swift has had injuries in each of his first three NFL seasons, but he has been productive on the field. In 40 games, he gained 2,878 yards in all scrimmage (1,680 rushing, 1,198 receiving) on 520 total touches (364 carries and 156 receptions) while finding the end zone 25 times (18 rushing, seven through the air).
His former teammate Jamaal Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns last year, and when he left in free agency, Detroit brought in Montgomery from the division rival Chicago Bears.
D’Andre Swift of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the New York Jets during the first quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium on December 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Swift was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Georgia, the SEC rival of Gibbs’ University of Alabama. He will be a free agent after the 2023 season.