Eagles RB D'Andre Swift Surprised How Trade Went Down: 'A Lot of Emotions'
PHILADELPHIA – D’Andre Swift didn’t see the handwriting on the wall until shortly after the 2023 NFL Draft began last week.
More specifically, not until his former team, the Detroit Lions, took a running back with the 12th overall pick. Suddenly, the backfield with the addition of Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs was much too crowded.
“It was a lot,” Swift said Wednesday. “It’s a business at the end of the day, so I understand it, but it’s my first time kind of dealing with it, so there were a lot of emotions all at one time.
“It was a surprise. There was really no explanation. Everything kind of went through my agent. There were a lot of different emotions going up and down.
“It still is right now. Just the not knowing factor, I don’t want to get too much into it, but it’s past me now. I’m here, I’m in Philadelphia, I play for the Eagles, so I’m ready to take on this journey each and every day and just go to work every single day and earn my keep.”
On the third day of the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles sent a 2025 fourth-round pick to Detroit, and the teams switched places in the seventh round, to land Swift, a Philly kid who attended St. Joseph’s Prep in the city.
The Eagles used the Lions’ pick in the seventh round to take defensive tackle Moro Ojomo.
General manager Howie Roseman said after the draft ended that Swift didn’t land on his trade radar until after Detroit selected Gibbs.
“A lot of emotions, a lot of emotions all at once, but now that it settled down and a couple days into it, excited, happy, happy for the new opportunity, new chapter in my life and my career,” said Swift. “I’m excited to be back home.”
Swift was high school teammates with receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who the Eagles signed in free agency.
“He’s my guy, man,” said Zaccheaus. “We grew up together, played high school ball together, won two state championships together, and just kept in touch throughout the years. Everything’s happening for a reason, and he’s exactly where he should be right now, and I feel the same way.
“I talked to him, just embrace it. Things happen, the nature of the business, whatever, but this is happening for a reason, and I’m glad to be back playing with him and working with each day.”
Swift was a second-round pick out of Georgia; Zaccheaus was an undrafted free agent from Virginia in 2019.
The Eagles got to know both players well while in high school, especially Swift.
“I was in the facility a couple times when I was young,” Swift said. “I went to St. Joe’s Prep, so we practiced at the NovaCare facility a couple times when we were in the state playoffs. Real familiar with the area, the people, (vice president of team security/chief security officer) Dom (DiSandro) how a couple of people came to my games in high school that I didn’t know about. So, it’s cool to hear those memories.”
The running back is looking to make new ones as a professional in his hometown, though he did not want to commit to what he believes his role might be.
“Taking it day by day," he said. "I’m so focused on just coming in here and just working every single day and earning my keep. Whatever role they see fit for me off the way I come in and work every day will be something I earn.”
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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