49ers big board for 2020 NFL Draft: Bowl games edition
. Running Back. Bulldogs . D'Andre Swift. 6. player. 814
Pros:
- It’s hard to imagine a more elusive running back, has a variety of moves and elite elusiveness
- Good hands as a receiver
- While not a true power back, will get yards after contact
- Can score a touchdown from anywhere and change a game in an instant
- Has excellent vision on zone runs
- Low center of gravity combined with thick legs allows him to absorb contact and keep going
Cons:
- While not a liability, can get better in pass protection
- While elusive, doesn’t possess elite straight-line speed
- History of ankle and soft-tissue injuries
The featured running back of the 2020 NFL Draft, D’Andre Swift would become the feature back if San Francisco chose him.
While not featuring blistering speed, what Swift does have is blistering agility. The moves he does to get past defenders are staggering, and he can put a defender through the spin cycle when he sends him the wrong way.
An able receiver, Swift has developed a low center of gravity that allows him to absorb hits. He will get yards after contact in both the running and passing game, and is elusive enough to go for home run plays from anywhere in the field.
He’s not just dependent on athletic ability however. Swift is a smart runner who patiently waits for holes to develop before darting through.
While not a total liability, Swift needs to get better in pass protection for the next level. He isn’t consistent enough in his blocking, so he needs to develop better technique in this regard.
Draft grade: First round
Part of the reason Swift is so relatively low on the big board is it’s likely the 49ers would have to orchestrate an unlikely trade up to get him.
Usually this would be grounds for being omitted on this list.
However, there is a chance that Swift could fall. Running backs can fall unless they’re considered an elite prospect, which Swift is not, and he does have some injury concerns.
It’s unlikely, but not impossible, the 49ers could grab Swift to be their featured back in their rotation without any trading whatsoever.