Dan Campbell: Lions 'Fell in Love' with Jahmyr Gibbs
The Lions got their guy at running back Thursday night. But, it wasn't former Texas Longhorns star running back Bijan Robinson, who was frequently mocked to Detroit leading up to the draft.
Robinson instead went to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 overall. Meanwhile, Detroit acquired Alabama product Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall selection, after trading down from the sixth spot with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Gibbs pick sent shockwaves through the team's fanbase – and for good reason. Although the ex-Crimson Tide back received a first-round grade from some draft evaluators, such as NFL Draft Bible, he wasn't expected to go off the board until the second round.
Subsequently, it's very likely that the Lions could've also taken Gibbs at No. 18 overall, and maybe would've had a chance to even trade all the way back to the end of the opening round to select him.
Yet, Gibbs' pre-draft ranking didn't matter to Detroit general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.
"Brad, myself, the staff, the personnel department, we all fell in love with this guy a long time ago," Campbell told FOX 2 Sports' Dan Miller, after the Gibbs selection. "And, as you go through the process, it only grows. He pops off the tape, he’s dynamic, he’s explosive and he’s an unbelievable human being and a worker. And, he was at a big-time program, led them in rushing and receiving, and we just felt like he fit us. He brings an explosive element to our offense.”
Gibbs spent his collegiate career with two programs: the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Crimson Tide. His first two seasons came at Georgia Tech, while his final one came at Alabama.
And, in each of those three seasons, he showcased the ability to impact the offense as more than just a runner. In fact, he caught a total of 103 passes for 1,215 yards and eight touchdowns in his time with the two programs.
Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY Sports
It’s left Campbell excited for what Gibbs will bring to the passing game in Detroit.
“I’m telling you, out of the backfield as a receiver, split out as a receiver, in the slot, he is very versatile,” Campbell expressed. “I mean, this is a guy who is very dangerous, we feel like, that we can use in the pass game, as well as the run game.”
First-year Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery echoed the sentiment Thursday that Gibbs adds value as both a runner and a pass-catcher.
“You've got to look at it several ways,” Montgomery said of the pick of Gibbs. “(Gibbs) is bringing a value also in the passing game that is a large, large value. And then, you add that to what he can do from a dynamic standpoint in the run game, and at the end of the day, it is about value.
“It's one of those situations where you looked at it, and as Brad and Dan looked at it, there was a value that we saw in this young man. It was a value that they saw in him, and we made the decision to go get him.”
After making the pick, Holmes admitted to reporters that he found it laughable that several mock drafts had Gibbs slipping all the way to pick No. 50 and beyond. The third-year general manager views the rookie back as being an immediate contributor to the Lions' offense.
It led Holmes and Detroit's front office to make Gibbs the No. 12 pick, marking the second consecutive draft that the Lions have selected an Alabama player with the aforementioned pick.
In the 2022 draft, Holmes selected wide receiver Jameson Williams at No. 12, after facilitating a draft-day trade with Minnesota that moved Detroit up 20 spots from No. 32 overall.
“I really didn't put the two 12's together, but obviously that's one of the most respected programs in college football,” Holmes said of the 12th pick and Alabama connection between Gibbs and Williams. “I've got a ton of respect for Coach (Nick) Saban and what he does down there, and you kind of know what kind of product and what kind of football player he's putting out. So, it just happened to be that (Gibbs) was one of our top players that we really, really liked, and (we're) just glad that we were in the position to get him.”
According to Campbell, you can add offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the list of Lions coaches that were glad to land the ex-Crimson Tide back.
“Oh, listen, he’s already drawing stuff up,” Campbell told FOX 2 about Detroit’s second-year play-caller. “He’s in his office right now, drawing all kind of stuff up. So, nobody’s more thrilled than he is about this. He (Gibbs) brings a whole ‘nother element to our offense that is really going to benefit the quarterback, the receiver position, St. Brown, those guys. And certainly, our O-line is going to like this guy.”
