D’Andre Swift would help one NFL team more than any other

D’Andre Swift is being projected as a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and there’s one team who could really use him more than the rest.

Another year, another Georgia running back who is projected to go very early in the NFL Draft. This year’s entrant is D’Andre Swift, who made a huge impact for the Bulldogs over the last few seasons.

The trend towards avoiding running backs in the first round has been bucked in recent years with backs like Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel, Leonard Fournette and others being taken in that opening round.

NFL teams are starting to move back to a more balanced offense, or at least having a featured running back to shoulder most of the carries.

With that in mind, there are more than a few teams who could benefit from a workhorse like D’Andre Swift, but there is one team who could potentially use him as that missing puzzle piece challenge some of the top teams in the league.

Which NFL team really needs D’Andre Swift?

Think of a team who just spent some money going in a “let’s win now” mentality, picking up a veteran quarterback with a history of winning big games to get the ball to some great wideouts, re-signing some names to an improving defense, and whose coach is more than happy to play an attacking style of offense.

Think of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The addition of Tom Brady (even an aging Brady) is an immediate upgrade at quarterback for the Buccaneers. They’ve kept some nastiness and speed on their defense with Ndamukong Suh being brought back to join Vita Vea once again, as well as the addition of Shaquil Barrett.  They have some of the best wide receivers in the league in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.

What’s missing? How about a three-down, blazing-fast running back to join Ronald Jones in the Bucs backfield.

A perfect fit for Swift.

The Bus ran the ball 38 percent of the time last year, with 409 rushing attempts for the season. Those numbers may increase a little this year, and with Brady running the offense, the screen game will come into play a little more. That means more touches for the running backs, and without Peyton Barber in the backfield anymore, Jones will need someone to help shoulder that load.

Right now the Bucs sit at number 14 in the first round, and it’s doubtful Swift will go before that. The teams above Tampa Bay will be looking at either upgrading or even finding a new franchise quarterback, fortifying their defensive or offensive lines, or (in the case of the Lions) putting together a whole new defense.

The Bucs could probably use some help on the offensive line as well, but with a back like Swift sitting there and what he could add to an offense that already had some weapons, it’s hard to see them passing it up.

The learning curve for Swift in Tampa would be lesser than with other teams as well. Bruce Arians‘ “No risk it, No Biscuit” philosophy on offense means lots of shots deep down the field and working the middle of the field against zone defenses. That can open up a lot for the running game once those linebackers are forced to commit to pass defense.

At Georgia, Swift showed he can power through a line even when the defense stacks the box (which most good ones did against the Bulldogs one-dimensional offense in 2019). It’s scary to think about how he’ll bust some big plays in the open field when he’s got space to run.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein said of Swift:

"Tempo and decisiveness are his calling cards, making him a highly talented inside/outside zone runner. He’s a cerebral runner who understands block timing and uses quick-cut agility and rare spatial awareness to read and react to defenses beyond the second level"

The marriage between D’Anrde Swift and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could yield some big things in an NFC South that is up for grabs this year. He could become that missing piece that puts the Bucs over the top and sends them deep into the playoffs.