The New York Giants recently made a significant decision to part ways with Saquon Barkley in order to explore a new direction for their running back position. Instead of investing a large sum of money in Barkley, the Giants opted to shift their focus and allocate those funds elsewhere. However, the team still needed a reliable running back for the upcoming season.
With a wide array of talented running backs available in free agency, the Giants contemplated adopting a running back-by-committee strategy with the financial resources they had freed up. Among the potential targets was former Philadelphia Eagles running back, D’Andre Swift. The Giants were captivated by Swift’s impressive physical abilities, believing that he could help fill the void left by Barkley’s departure.
During his time with the Eagles, Swift showcased his skills as a 1,000-yard rusher, accumulating a career-high of 1,049 yards with an average of 4.6 yards per carry. Despite his success on the ground, Swift’s involvement in the passing game was underutilized by the Eagles, with only 39 catches for 214 yards at an average of 5.5 yards per catch.
The Eagles relied heavily on Swift as their primary back last season, given the decline of Rashaad Penny and the challenges faced by Kenneth Gainwell. Recognizing Swift’s potential, the Giants envisioned him as the lead back in a running back rotation, acknowledging that he would likely be paired with another player.
Despite the Giants’ interest in acquiring Swift, they believed it would be a tough task to lure him away from Philadelphia, considering his ties to the city as a hometown player. Ultimately, Swift did not return to the Eagles and instead signed a lucrative three-year, $24 million deal with the Chicago Bears, marking one of the early signings in free agency.
As anticipated by the Giants, Swift will now form a tandem with Khalil Herbert in Chicago, while the Eagles secured Barkley on a substantial three-year, $37.5 million contract. On the other hand, the Giants secured the services of Devin Singletary on a three-year, $16.5 million deal, pairing him with Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy Jr., both fifth-round picks in consecutive years. Additionally, the Giants opted to invest in their offensive line, signing Jon Runyan and Jermaine Eluemunor.
Regardless of whether the Giants actively pursued Swift, the outcome suggests that they could have potentially secured his services from Philadelphia. The team’s strategic approach to reshaping their running back unit highlights the complexities and uncertainties involved in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL free agency market.