In the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected RB D’Andre Swift out of Georgia to share the backfield with Kerryon Johnson. When the pick was made, I was disappointed because I am not a fan of taking a running back that high but mainly because Swift has a history of injuries and I feared the same would happen in Detroit.
Well, my fear has come true as Swift continues to miss practices with a leg injury. The injury is thought to be minor but the more practices the rookie misses, the more it will impact his playing time early on in the season.
On Sunday, Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell talked about Swift missing practice and he is obviously concerned.
“It’s not ideal, we’ll say that,” Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “There’s a lot on these rookies’ plates right now, just in terms of everything’s new for them. Obviously, he’s trying to pick up a whole new offense, and he didn’t have the offseason. I think that’s what’s so critical.
“Every day that we miss, I think it puts you further behind, because, in terms of not just knowing your assignment, but then how your assignment fits to each and every one of the looks you can get from the defense,” Bevell continued. “It’s one thing to see them on paper, it’s one thing to see them on tape, but it’s another thing to go out there and actually execute what you’re supposed to execute, make the decisions that you’re supposed to make at a quick level, and he’s missing all those different reps.”
With Swift already hurt and Johnson having a history of injuries himself, should the Lions be looking to add another RB to the mix?
Well, if that is the direction they want to go, an interesting option just became available.
On Monday morning, news broke that the Jacksonville Jaguars have released former No. 4 overall pick, Leonard Fournette.
The newest free-agent RB now that the Jaguars have released their former first-round pick: pic.twitter.com/0c6D7E4nrP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 31, 2020
Fournette, who is just 25 years old, carried the ball 265 times in 2019 for a career-best 1,152 yards, while catching a whopping 76 passes for 522 yards.
*No. 4 overall pick in 2017
*Rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2 of 3 seasons
*76 catches in 2019
Those things listed above all seem great, right?
In a vacuum, Fournette looks like a no-brainer addition to any NFL team that needs a running back but there is more to the story as he has reportedly had off the field issues, including not getting along well with some of his coaches.
So, should the Lions attempt to sign Fournette?
In my opinion, the Lions should definitely do their due diligence on Fournette, including bringing him in for a workout. If he is willing to take a 1-year prove-it deal for a bargain price, I would have no problem at all with the Lions taking a chance, especially if they believe Swift will not be a big part of the offense for an extended time.
Prior to the 2020 NFL Draft, the Lions were linked to Fournette by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN but I had doubts then that Bob Quinn would trade for him and I have doubts now that Quinn will try to sign him.
My guess would be that the Kansas City Chiefs snag him and make another run at a Super Bowl.
Nation, what do you think? Should the Lions sign RB Leonard Fournette?
