I like Swope and would love to have him play the slot for us. I think he is a very low risk pick with a very good value in the 3rd round and a steal in the 4th. But, I think he's the last part of the equation. By that I mean, first we need to sort out our FA and marquee rookie. One of those two needs to be a deep threat. If it's Wallace and Patterson, then by all means, grab Swope in the 3rd. If it's Jennings and Wheaton, then we might need to draft 1 more speed guy because we'd be too reliant on a small and possibly frail deep threat in Wheaton and already invested in a marquee slot guy in Jennings. Regardless, if Swope is there in the 4th, you take him, because he's going to offer a lot.
I used to consider myself a Davone Bess guy, because he has quickness and route running to create separation and has good hands. But, he is still a very very small WR who really can only play the slot, has no deep speed and not a real game breaker in any sense of the word. He is a possession receiver that requires a great throw by the QB to be effective. I don't mean to downplay his ability, because I've always liked our little UDFA. But, when I hear Mike Mayock say things like "who is the best slot guy these days .... someone like Davone Bess maybe?" and see so many posters who think Bess is a top 5 slot guy, it boggles my mind. Just so we're on the same page, it's guys like Greg Jennings, Victor Cruz, Wes Welker, Randall Cobb, and Percy Harvin that would be my top 5 at the position, and all of those guys have game-breaking speed, are deep threats, generate fantastic RAC and do or will command top dollar in the FA market. Davone Bess is lucky to be paid like he already is, and wouldn't generate anywhere near the interest in FA as the top slot guys.
Swope would be an improvement over Bess. Swope probably doesn't have quite as good hands as Bess, but is as good of a route runner, much faster, is a bigger target, younger player, can get deep on nickel backs, and has open field running ability. He is also less injury prone (more muscle mass) and would cost a LOT less because of his low round rookie salary.
People who want Swope should understand that grabbing Swope most likely makes Bess expendable.
