Brad Holmes: Trading D'Andre Swift 'Win-Win for All Parties Involved'
The job of a general manager in the National Football League entails not only considering the needs of a team in the present, but also paying attention to the future, as well.
For Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift, entering the final season of his rookie contract without a real solid plan of securing a long-term contract made his situation unsettling.
Watching Jahmyr Gibbs get selected with the No. 12 overall pick was the clear signal to many that the talented running back was on the trade block, despite rumors that swirled regarding his future when the 2022 season concluded.
Following the conclusion of this year's draft, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes addressed the trade that netted the organization a 2025 fourth-round pick.
"I think I told you guys around the time when we did the Hockenson trade, it's my job to keep laser focus on the present, but probably even more importantly, keep laser focus on the future," said Holmes. "And that's what went into a lot of the decisions with having to make the trade with D'Andre Swift to Philly.
"He was in his last year of his contract. And, if I go back to last year, I felt really good about us being able to bring back Jamaal Williams. I felt confident as the season ended, and I felt good with our conversations with his camp. And, it didn't happen. So, you have to just be prepared for all those things."
Holmes explained that he felt the trade to the Eagles, which just played in the Super Bowl, was a positive for Swift. As a result of the trade, he's returning to his hometown.
"We don't draft scared. We don't kind of play scared," said Holmes. "The thing with Jahmyr Gibbs is that's the guy that we loved. But again, having to keep that laser focus for the future, all those things become a part of it. We want to do the right thing for the player. And so that's kind of how we do it. I think at the end of the day, him being able to go back to his hometown on a really, really good team, that was just in the Super Bowl, I think it was a win-win for all parties involved."
