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D'Andre Swift NFL Draft 2020: Scouting Report for Detroit Lions' Pick
April 24, 2020
RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
STRENGTHS
—An exceptional athlete with the speed, strength and hands to be a three-down back.
—Has patience and vision to cut back for big plays; rare start-and-stop acceleration for a running back.
—Off-the-charts agility; will also use stutter-step or gear-down to slow down defenders.
—Fits into any blocking scheme or offensive system; will make an instant impact for fantasy football owners.
—Not afraid to stick his shoulder into a blitzing linebacker or defensive lineman.
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WEAKNESSES
—Doesn't have much weight to put behind his runs; won't get many extra yards.
—Comes from a Georgia scheme that didn't ask him to take many carries per game.
—Spends too much time looking for cutback lanes; needs to recognize that a three-yard gain is better than a two-yard loss.
—Suffered a shoulder injury late in the 2019 season.
OVERALL
Swift is unquestionably the best running back in the 2020 draft class, and he's also the most scheme-versatile one. He can excel in an outside-zone scheme thanks to his agility and speed, but he also has the vision and power to run between the tackles. Add in his soft hands and advanced route-running, and it's easy to see why Swift should be a featured back immediately.
GRADE: 92
PRO COMPARISON: Saquon Barkley/Duke Johnson