NFL Draft 2020: D’Andre Swift to the Lions makes no sense

After picking Kerryon Johnson in 2018, the Lions should have been content, but they selected Georgia’s D’Andre Swift in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Lions did something that they used to do for years under Matt Millen and it got them in trouble and they picked the best available player on the board in Georgia running back D’Andre Swift who is the second rusher to come off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Did they just mess up a decent situation with Kerryon Johnson in the backfield or did they improve the offense tenfold?

The answer may be a little complex because of course adding a talented rusher like Swift will improve the offensive outlook, but that was basically the front office telling Johnson that they don’t believe in him or they don’t want to invest in him long-term. That’s going to cause him to shut down or create friction — something the Lions have been known in recent years.

Don’t get me wrong, Swift is an impressive talent at running back and many draft experts had him as the best at his position in this class, even going in the first round, but was he worth passing up pass rush help or even offensive line or receiver depth? Probably not, unless the Lions’ front office is so worried about the health of Kerryon.

Granted, Johnson has been hurt in each of his first two seasons in the league, but when he is healthy, he is a No. 1 running back. Do they trade him?

I’m not saying Swift doesn’t have the potential to be an elite rusher and I’m not saying they can’t form a deadly one-two backfield punch for the Lions, but to address a non-need this early in the draft is insane.

Grade: C+

For value, this is an extremely good pick, but for need, it’s terrible. The Lions have so many more pressing needs to address and running back is not one of them. Sure, Swift will be fun to watch, but the Lions will be sitting at home during playoff time again if they don’t touch on the defensive line soon.