Will He Stay or Will He Go?

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — If D’Andre Swift had the choice, he would likely opt to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the Eagles’ approach to his position differs from his sentiment. The team acquired Swift in the final year of his rookie contract, providing the St. Joseph’s Prep graduate and Philadelphia native an opportunity to play for his hometown team. Swift capitalized on the chance, achieving his first career 1,000-yard season and recording the highest yards from scrimmage in his four NFL seasons (1,263).

His stellar performance earned Swift a Pro Bowl berth, marking a dream first season in Philadelphia. The question now lingers: Will it be his only season in midnight green?

“We’ll see,” Swift remarked. “It was a blessing to play here this year. We didn’t finish how we wanted to, but we had a special group of guys. A lot of great leadership on the team. We just didn’t finish how we wanted to.”

Despite his notable performance, the odds may be against Swift returning, given the Eagles’ historical approach to the running back position. Since Howie Roseman resumed general manager duties in 2016, the team has refrained from offering multi-year contracts to running backs in free agency. Swift, entering free agency for the first time, expressed a desire for a fair market deal for his position but remained mum on whether it would be for multiple years.

“Only time will tell,” Swift stated. “We’ll see. I’m from here, so just being able to wake up and know I’m close to my family, my friends where I grew up at is something I don’t take for granted. People don’t get this opportunity.”

Swift acknowledged the significance of playing in his hometown and having a successful year, expressing gratitude to the organization for the opportunity. Achieving a career-high in rushing yards (1,049) and being the featured back for the first time in his career, Swift demonstrated his capabilities despite changes likely looming for the running back position within the team.

Despite potential shifts, Swift is determined to prove himself further and views his successful season as just the beginning. “I know what I’m capable of, and everything is ahead of me,” he affirmed.

CBS News Philadelphia has been closely following D’Andre Swift’s journey from the start. For more content related to the Philly favorite, explore our story links below.