Latest news with #Swinson
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why new Patriots defender carries a football everywhere he goes
There have been times when Bradyn Swinson walks into a grocery store and people think he's crazy. Sometimes, people ask if the inanimate object he's holding is his child. Instead, he explained, it represented his dream. Advertisement On Saturday, the Patriots helped Swinson realize that goal when they drafted him in the fifth round with pick 146. A talented edge rusher, he comes to New England from LSU where he picked up an interesting habit. Last year, Swinson started to carry an NFL football with him everywhere he went. That included routine shopping trips where people gave him funny looks. On Saturday, he explained it started after he saw LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels do the same thing. 'I got it from Jayden Daniels. He used to carry his dream everywhere, so you always want to carry your dream everywhere. I started doing it my last year at LSU, carrying it around with me,' Swinson said. 'I go to the grocery store. I go to the mall. I go anywhere and just have the ball with me. I keep the ball close. The ball is the program.' When that started, Swinson's college career took off. Last season marked his first as a starter at LSU. He spent his first three seasons in Oregon and the 2023 season in Baton Rouge. All four seasons he came off the bench. Advertisement Last year, after carrying that football with him everywhere, Swinson led LSU in sacks (8.5), pressures (59), and tackles for loss (13). He earned Second Team All-SEC honors and said carrying a football with him everywhere helped his game. 'When I started doing that and got to game day, everything started surreal when you start punching the ball out and you're used to seeing the ball,' Swinson said. 'When you're holding the ball so much, you get to know the different spots on the ball.' There are only a couple of problems with that ball. Swinson explained that thanks to Daniels, his football has a Washington Commanders logo on it. 'It's actually upstairs right now,' Swinson said. 'But I can't walk around with it no more. That's a Washington Commanders ball. I need a Patriots ball.' Advertisement He also admitted that routine trips shopping often resulted in others thinking he was a bit off. 'Oh yeah, I always get some type of reaction,' Swinson said. 'They always look at me at me like I'm crazy – like, 'Ok, you must be obsessed or something.' They'll be like, 'Is that your child?' I always have it. I bring it to the pool. I bring it anywhere.' Swinson wanted to keep his dream close. On Saturday, the Patriots helped him realize it. More Patriots Content Read the original article on MassLive.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Carolina Panthers Day 2 mock draft: Our projections for 2025's 2nd and 3rd rounds
Carolina Panthers Day 2 mock draft: Our projections for 2025's 2nd and 3rd rounds Thursday night marked the start of what might be a pretty fun draft for the Carolina Panthers. In a bit of a twist, the team selected University of Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with this year's eighth overall pick. Rather than trading down or going with a defensive player, as many had expected, general manager Dan Morgan and company got quarterback Bryce Young his guy. So, what will they have in store for the second and third rounds? Here is our Day 2 mock draft for the Panthers . . . Second round (No. 47, via ARZ): Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU Trade: Carolina sends No. 57 and No. 111 to Arizona for No. 47 Like they did last year, the Panthers move up a bit in the second round to nab their player. This time, it's Swinson—a 6-foot-4, 255-pound havoc factory. A second-team All-SEC selection in 2024, Swinson led the Tigers with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. He was also one of just nine FBS defenders to record at least 60 pressures. The Panthers brought Swinson in on a "Top-30" visit, which has proved to be quite an accurate indicator of this front office's interest. Third round (No. 74): Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina Since the Panthers got lambasted by some for not going with a pass rusher on Day 1, let's have them double-dip at the position on Day 2. Kennard, 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds, fits Carolina's size threshold off the edge. The reigning Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner brings the production Morgan looks for as well—as he notched an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks this past season. Oh, and we know the Panthers love their Gamecocks. Three of their defensive starters—outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum and cornerback Jaycee Horn—played their college ball at the University of South Carolina. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bradyn Swinson Scouting Report: Everything NFL fans need to know about the LSU product
Bradyn Swinson Scouting Report: Everything NFL fans need to know about the LSU product Coming off the best season of his collegiate career, former LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson will try his hand at the professional level. The edge defender led the team in sacks and tackles for loss. Under the direction of first-year defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples, Swinson developed into a force to be reckoned with. He wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, leading to an All-SEC selection. Swinson joined head coach Brian Kelly's team after three seasons at Oregon. In his fourth and fifth college seasons, he reached new levels of productivity and developed into a reliable starter by the end. He finished his five-year career with 55 appearances and 128 tackles, including 25 for loss and 13.5 sacks. Analysts highlight Swinson's solid frame and length as well as his active hands when going against offensive tackles. However, his leanness could be a downfall too, especially against agile lines and running backs in the NFL. He's projected to be a day two selection. Read more about Swinson's history and what scouts are saying about him ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Recruiting ranking Swinson was a three-star prospect and the No. 33 edge rusher in the 2020 class, according to On3's Industry Rankings. He committed to Oregon over a plethora of Power Four offers. As a three-star transfer following the 2022 season, Swinson was the No. 54 edge rusher in the portal. He joined the Tigers during Kelly's first season at the helm. NFL scouting report "Swinson is competitive at the point of attack, where he uses his length and footwork to beat the block or prevent bock sustains. He is high-cut and eggy with average lateral agility but has an innate feel for playing off the block and making tackles." - Lance Zierlein, "'Solid' is a word that kept coming up while watching Bradyn Swinson's tape and writing his scouting report. He should enter the NFL as a decent pass-rusher and has a chance to develop into a complete player by growing as a run defender." - Matt Holder, Bleacher Report College statistics
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Atlanta Falcons host LSU EDGE prospect on pre-draft visit
Atlanta Falcons host LSU EDGE prospect on pre-draft visit 2025 NFL draft: Falcons host LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson on pre-draft visit The Atlanta Falcons are wrapping up their final pre-draft visits before the 2025 NFL draft kicks off next week. On Wednesday, the team was linked to two more prospects. According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are hosting LSU edge prospect Bradyn Swinson on a top-30 visit. Swinson finished the 2024 season with nine sacks, 43 hurries and two forced fumbles in his first year starting. The Tigers standout is a projected Day 2 prospect who could upgrade an underwhelming Falcons pass rush. A Georgia native, Swinson spent three seasons at Oregon before transferring to LSU in 2023. While he must improve against the run, Swinson earned a Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade of 90.3 last season. According to Rapoport, the Falcons also wrapped up a pre-draft meeting with William and Mary offensive lineman Charles Grant. The team has an obvious hole at the center position after losing Drew Dalman in free agency. While Grant played exclusively at left tackle over the last three seasons, some scouts believe he's best suited to move inside to guard or center in the NFL. In 2024, Grant earned an overall PFF grade of 91.2 and a zone-blocking grade of 93. Wednesday is the final day for pre-draft visits ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Here's a look at some other prospects the Falcons have met with. Make sure to check out our latest pre-draft starting lineup projections for the Falcons in 2025.
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 36, LSU DE Bradyn Swinson
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 36, LSU DE Bradyn Swinson The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. During Jeff Hafley's first season as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, the pass rush did disappearing acts in big games far too often. The Packers dismissed defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich and replaced him with DeMarcus Covington, who spent this past season as the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. Brian Gutekunst made it crystal clear during the NFL Scouting Combine that they need the defensive line to create more consistent chaos if they are going to get to where they want to go. "We need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players," Gutekunst said. "I'm excited about the guys we have in the room, we'll see if we add to it, but that's gotta get better if we're going to accomplish our goals we want to accomplish in this season." A player that would bring instant juice to Green Bay's pass rush is Bradyn Swinson. The LSU edge rusher checks in at No. 36 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A three-star recruit out of Georgia, Swinson started his collegiate career with the Oregon Ducks before transferring to LSU in 2023. During his first season with the Tigers, he recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. This past season, Swinson recorded 58 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. "Swinson was LSU's best pass rusher this past season," Koki Riley, the LSU report for The Advocate and said. "He improved his ability to set the edge in the run game and posted career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. He plays with a high motor and has a very big and fun personality." At 6-4, 255 pounds and nearly 34-inch arms, Swinson is well-put together. The Oregon transfer has an explosive first step and has quick upfield acceleration. He's bendy and runs the arc with speed, using his long strides to quickly close on the quarterback. He keeps leveling up as a hands fighter to keep himself clean and he's close to getting his black belt. He does a good job of converting speed to power. To go along with his 8.5 sacks, Swinson recorded 60 pressures this past season. "He's a bendy and athletic pass rusher who dramatically increased his production on the field since transferring to LSU from Oregon," Riley said. "He had just three sacks in two seasons with the Ducks." Swinson plays with a revved-up motor and that's evident as a backside defender when he's able to chase down ball carriers with his effort and outstanding closing speed. He has the lateral quickness to sidestep blockers and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He's combative at the point of attack and has gotten better each season at setting the edge. This past season he recorded a career-high 31 run stops. "Swinson was productive in his first season at LSU, but almost strictly as a pass rusher," Riley said. "He didn't play on every down and shared reps at the Jack position with Texas transfer Ovie Oghoufo. Oghoufo was the veteran LSU turned to in order to stop the run. Swinson's role was to affect the quarterback on passing downs. Once Oghoufo departed after last year, Swinson took on a bigger role and proved that he could be a strong anchor against the run." Fit with the Packers Green Bay's pass rush could use a different flavor. With Opening Day right around the corner let's use a baseball reference. Right now that room is filled with starting pitchers who pitch to contact. What that room needs is a flamethrower. Somebody with some juice. Enter Swinson. The LSU defensive end would bring instant juice to Green Bay's pass rush. While he may not have the first-step quickness of Clay Matthews, he gets upfield quickly to challenge offensive tackles. "At the next level, Swinson would provide quality depth to any edge rushing unit, thanks to his pass-rushing capabilities, athleticism and improved play as a run stopper," Riley said. "His joyous personality should only help a team's locker room as well." The obvious hope for Green Bay's pass rush is Gary bounces back and Van Nesse enjoys a breakout during his third year in the league. Even if those things happen, the Packers could stand to add a player like Swinson who would offer a different look to help keep offensive tackles off balance.
