Rookie Bradyn Swinson doing all he can to make the Patriots, and to keep the snack table well-stocked for the veterans

Boston Globe

6 days ago

For Swinson, the extra level of responsibility means hitting up the snack aisle at a local store. He ran down a typical shopping list.
'I got big boys in my room, like Keion [White] and [K'Lavon Chaisson], so they always want snacks,' he said. 'But they're eating 'old-head snacks' like Nilla Wafers and stuff. Like, what are we doing?'
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'I got some Nilla Wafers. I got some Gushers — those are really for me. Don't tell them I said that,' he added with a small smile. 'I got some fruit snacks. They got sunflower seeds. Let me see what else … I got some Chex Mix, too.
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'And then Harold [Landry] … Harold runs through Essentia water like he's breathing oxygen. I don't understand it. I probably refilled him about six or seven times. But you know? I'm enjoying doing it. It's a blessing to be here. So I'll do whatever they tell me to do.'
For Swinson, who said all the rookie stuff is 'like you're crossing over into a fraternity,' loading up on snacks is a small price to pay for the chance to learn from veteran pass rushers such as White and Landry. Taken in the fifth round by the Patriots, the 6-foot-4-inch, 255-pounder carved out a reputation as a talented situational pass rusher at LSU. He was named second-team All-SEC as a senior, and led the Tigers with 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
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The Patriots finished last in the league with 28 sacks last season — a number all the more striking considering nine came in a win over the Bears. Swinson, even in a situational role, could pay dividends in coming into 2025.
Currently projected as a backup defensive end/edge rusher, the rookie welcomes the opportunity to serve as a substitute DoorDasher for the veterans if some of their on-field knowledge can rub off.
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'I have guys like Harold who have been in the league for seven or eight years, and seeing how he gets off the ball,' Swinson said. 'I have guys like Keion who are the bigger-frame guys. I'm kind of in-between. But having multiple guys who I can go to that can just help me with a lot with moves.
'Just learning the game and just taking me under their wing. They all took me under their wing like it was nothing, and I appreciate them for it.'
On Wednesday, Swinson had a chance to flash in one-on-one drills. Going against college teammate Will Campbell, Swinson showed off a nifty spin move, beating the first-round pick to the inside.
Asked about the head-to-head matchup with Campbell, Swinson pointed to their time together in Baton Rouge as another teaching tool.
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'Iron sharpens iron, you know?' Swinson said. 'That's just going back to two years. Two years being at LSU going to each other. Just good work going to each other. I feel like me and Will know each other real well. I feel like we know each other better than anybody else out there because we were in college together for a long time.
'He's always been a guy that's been poised. He's always been able to block the outside noise. I love Will … He keeps me on straight, too, because just seeing his mind-set from college and just carrying over to the league, it's like he focuses on his skill and just stuff he wants to get better at. But he doesn't really listen to the expectations and everything. He just focused on what he's got going on.'
At the end of his session with reporters, Swinson had to rush with his hands full and a shopping list for the veterans. Just another day for a rookie in the NFL.
'Just doing what I've got to do,' he shrugged.
Christopher Price can be reached at