So, maybe it's best to consider D'Andre Swift a player who can do a lot of things in an offense. He can be a running back, of course, with breakaway speed and toughness when he takes a handoff. And he can catch the football and be a weapon in the passing game, so that's a piece of his game, too. He can line up around the formation – in the backfield, in the slot, on the perimeter, anywhere, because he has a high football IQ and plays that way.

"I like to think I can help an offense in a lot of ways," he said. "I've been blessed with the ability to catch the football and it's something I work at constantly. I'm doing everything I can to become a better player and help this offense."

Being a Philadelphia Eagle for almost a full week now – the Eagles acquired him via trade with the Detroit Lions on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft last Saturday – also represents a fresh start for Swift, who played for three seasons with the Lions after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He's home, now a man and veteran of the NFL after growing up in Philadelphia, so it has all come full circle for Swift in his football career.

"It's a blessing and I feel that way," he said. "There is a great feeling in this organization and I'm excited to be here and help this team win."

All of the above, when put together, provides some context into the decision, then, that Swift becomes the Eagles player to wear, for the first time, jersey No. 0 for the 2023 season. You'll remember that the Eagles made the proposal at the recent NFL Annual Meeting to allow teams to grant a player the jersey number given the scarcity of available numbers for 90-man rosters. The proposal passed at the meeting in Phoenix in March and the No. 0 is now available to any player except offensive and defensive linemen.

Swift is that player.

It certainly makes sense for Swift, who wore No. 32 as a member of the Lions. He's a multipurpose weapon in a powerful Eagles offense and, for Swift, everything is new. He's new to the Eagles, returning to his hometown, and it's the perfect celebration of a new beginning.

Here are the initial jersey numbers offered to the Eagles:

Returning Players

DT Noah Elliss – 61 (*Was on Reserve/Non-Football Injury list in 2022)

RB Trey Sermon – 22 (*Was 34)

P Arryn Siposs – 10 (*Was 8)

Veteran Additions

RB Kennedy Brooks – 34

S Terrell Edmunds – 26

S Justin Evans – 30

OL Julian Good-Jones – 77

TE Dalton Keene – 47

QB Marcus Mariota – 8

DB Tristin McCollum – 36

LB Nicholas Morrow – 41

RB Rashaad Penny – 23

DT Kentavius Street – 97

RB D'Andre Swift – 0

CB Greedy Williams – 38

T Jarrid Williams – 73

WR Olamide Zaccheaus – 13

TE Dan Arnold – 46

Draft Picks

DT Jalen Carter – 98

LB Nolan Smith – 3

OL Tyler Steen – 56

S Sydney Brown – 21

CB Kelee Ringo – 37

QB Tanner McKee – 10

DT Moro Ojomo – 72

Undrafted Free Agents

CB Mekhi Garner – 43

WR Jadon Haselwood – 87

WR Joseph Ngata – 86

T Chim Okorafor – 79

T Trevor Reid – 74

CB Eli Ricks – 39

TE Brady Russell – 83

LB Ben VanSumeren – 57

P Ty Zentner – 49