Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips
(on how D.J. Swearinger fits into the defense) "D.J. Swearinger is very athletic in the mold of safeties that we like. He can play the strong safety or free safety. He can cover a slot guy if you need him to. He's very versatile that way. He's smart, tough, aggressive, all the things you're looking for."
(on Swearinger's hitting ability ) "He's a big hitter. Like I say, he's a tough, physical player but he has good range. He can play free safety. He's got great range overlapping or he can play strong safety and get in the box. He also fits in your sub-package. That's what G.Q. (Glover Quin) played for us, when the sub-package is playing over the tight end and being able to play the running game too. He fits well in there. We played that at least 50 percent of the time, so it's almost like adding a starter."
(on the opportunity he has to come in and learn from Ed Reed and Danieal Manning) "We've got veteran players that are outstanding players. Hopefully some of that rubs off all the time. I think we have some outstanding coaches that will do a good job with him too. The little things as far as learning to be a pro and those kinds of things, those guys can really help them with and getting them settled in the first year. Some of the things that younger guys need to go through, those guys can give them the experience they need by talking to them about it."
(on not getting to have the first round pick on defense this year for the first time) "Yeah, what happened? What happened? No, I was all for the guy we took. I thought it was an outstanding choice. Whatever is best for the team is what I want and I think DeAndre Hopkins is going to be great for this football team. The more they can score on offense, the more they can keep the ball, the better defense we can play."
(on if D.J. Swearinger and Ed Reed can be featured on the field together) "Yeah, we can have them all on the field at the same time. He still has to work in and show us that he can do the things we think he can do, but he fits that mold that he can play either safety. Not everyone is healthy all the time. He can play in our sub-package, which he would be your starter almost. He can vie for that. I think he'll compete real well."
(on D.J. Swearinger's hitting ability) "It's pretty easy to watch him for coaches. It's pretty easy to watch a guy who strikes like he does and moves like he does and is athletic as he is, but as physical as he is too. That always adds to your team."
(on where D.J. Swearinger was rated on the board compared to any outside linebackers) "I think he was the highest-rated player the board at this time. That was part of it too. You always try to take a football player and this guy is a football player."
