Lions Targeted RB Jahmyr Gibbs 'Early' in Draft Process

Why the Lions were aggressive in their pursuit of running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Detroit Lions identified running back Jahmyr Gibbs early in the pre-draft process. 

“He was definitely a guy that we had identified early on in the process," said Lions general manager Brad Holmes. "I really just kind of saw him for the first time, really, when I went to the Texas-Alabama game, and just kind of, he just kind of stuck with me since then.”

The decision to select Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick was met with heavy skepticism. Many pundits, based on principal, do not believe that teams should target running backs in the first round.

For the Lions, adding a player with Gibbs' skillset became desirable, after observing his game-changing abilities with the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

“He’s very explosive. He’s a weapon," said Holmes. "Obviously, he can do it all as a runner, but what he can do as a receiver and a lot of other things. So, his versatility, what he’s going to bring to the offense, we’re really excited about."

Detroit's newest addition to the running backs room is ready to start his career at the next level. 

"I want to win," Gibbs expressed, when asked what his NFL goals were. "So, I’m just going to do all the work. I would say winning, everything comes, like all the awards and all of that comes with winning. So, once you win, all that will be taken care of.”

New Detroit running backs coach Scottie Montgomery expressed that Gibbs impressed the coaching staff throughout the pre-draft process, especially at the Scouting Combine. 

“The first thing you say is that he’s a fantastic young man that we’re bringing to Detroit," said Montgomery. "We just really, really liked him from a character standpoint. It stood out not only at the combine, but it also stood out when we had a chance to sit down and talk and meet with him.”

Outside of his speed and elusiveness, Gibbs demonstrated strong fundamental understanding of protection concepts, which showcased his strong knowledge of playing the position.  

“The first time I had a real chance to talk to him, I was really, really impressed with his overall football IQ, his understanding of protection, and how to get to it," Montgomery said. "We’ll work on certain things there of course, but I was really, really impressed with him and how he moved through understanding the rules of protection. He’s been coached really, really well.”