Opening day countdowns are great. So are player profiles. Here at Musket Fire, we decided to combine them and create a Week 1 countdown-oriented, jersey number-dictated player profile series. Yesterday we looked at No. 26 Logan Ryan, and the day before that it was No. 27 Tavon Wilson. Because today marks 25 days until the New England Patriots open 2015, we are profiling No. 25, cornerback Daxton Swanson.
Swanson is pictured here wearing No. 35. He has since switched to No. 25.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts before the 2013 season, Swanson has yet to appear in a meaningful NFL game.
It should be noted that Swanson probably would have been drafted in 2013 had it not been for a hamstring injury that he sustained right before the combine that year. The Colts placed him on the injured reserve after signing him, and then released the Sam Houston State product in October.
More from Patriots News
- What trading Mac Jones during the draft can do for the Patriots
- Early round Patriots draft picks you’ll hate now, love later
- Musket Fire Roundup: Our own final predictions for round 1
- Breaking down the Patriots’ options in the 2023 NFL Draft
- Special DraftKings Massachusetts Promo Code for NFL Draft – Get $150 on ANY $5 Bet
Then, the San Francisco 49ers swooped in and signed Swanson. He stuck around the Bay Area until they cut him loose in May 2014. Swanson has been a Patriot ever since.
Swanson was one of the major stories out of training camp last summer. Like Malcolm Butler, Swanson played well enough in a crowded cornerback group for the Patriots to keep him around. He was cut, but the Pats signed him to the practice squad in mid-September, where he spent the remainder of the season.
Here’s what you need to know about Swanson: he’s a ball hawk. Earlier this summer, I compared him to another dreadlocked Patriot corner, Asante Sameul, because of his ball skills. Swanson is the all-time interception leader at Sam Houston State having picked off 14 passes in his three seasons at the school.
Unfortunately for Swanson, there just isn’t much room for him on the 53-man roster. With Butler, Logan Ryan, Tarell Brown, Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain and promising rookie Darryl Roberts in the mix, it will be very difficult for Swanson to squeak onto the team. Especially considering the fact that he didn’t see much action at all in coverage in the preseason opener.
However, a reasonable goal for Swanson would be another September on the practice squad. Injuries will inevitably hit the Patriots’ cornerback group, and when they do, it will be nice to have Swanson ready to go.
Because this is a jersey number-focused series, we must recognize that there are actually two owners of the No. 25 jersey right now. Tony Creecy was just signed to the team in response to the slew of injuries the Patriots have had at running back this month. His chances of being anything more than a camp body are slim to none.
In case you missed them, here are the profiles for No. 28 James White, No. 29 LeGarrette Blount, No. 30 Duron Harmon, No. 31 Tarell Brown, No. 32 Devin McCourty, No. 33 Dion Lewis, No. 35 Jonas Gray, No. 36 Tyler Gaffney, No. 37 Jordan Richards, No. 38 Brandon Bolden, No. 39 Travaris Cadet, No. 41 Dekoda Watson, No. 42 Xzavier Dickson, No. 43 Nate Ebner, No. 46 james Develin, No. 47 Michael Hoomanawanui, No. 48 Geneo Grissom and No. 49 Joe Cardona.
Be sure to check back on Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we celebrate 24 days until Week 1 by profiling the owner of the No. 24 jersey, cornerback Bradley Fletcher.