When The Detroit Lions made a decision to trade down on draft night, fans were curious as to what General Manager Brad Holmes had up his sleeve. Moving down six spots, the Lions selected Running back Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama. A surprising move initially, but it now seems as if the Lions made the right decision. Brad Holmes got the player he wanted and some extra draft capital via the trade. Gibbs will not only look to make an impact on the field but also contribute to this “Brand New Lions” culture.

Photo Credit: Andrew Wevers – USA TODAY Sports

The Situation

Entering the 2023 Draft, The Detroit Lions had D’andre Swift on the roster and had recently reached a free-agent deal with RB David Montgomery. With those two, it seemed as if the Lions future was set at the position. However, Lions staff must have seen Gibbs as an upgrade, and that is hard to debate.

Jahmyr played his first two college seasons at Georgia Tech, where he had 232 carries for 1,206 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he added 773 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. After his time with Georgia Tech, Gibbs wanted to contend for a national title, so he transferred to Alabama. At Alabama is where Gibbs truly showcased what a threat he can be in a dual role. In his lone season, he ran for 926 yards on 151 carries and added 7 touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 444 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Gibbs is a 5-foot-11 combo back that is an agile runner but also a force as a receiver. Amidst the six-game suspension of Jameson Williams, Gibbs could be a heavily utilized receiving option. Having a teammate and fellow running back like David Montgomery will do nothing but help Gibbs find his way. Montgomery will be more of a pure runner, which will help Gibbs further develop his receiving skills.

Projections

Gibbs can become one of the most prolific dual-threat backs in the league. He has been compared to the likes of Alvin Kamara due to his play style. It will be important for him to build early chemistry with QB Jared Goff and the rest of the offense. OTA’s will be great practice for all of that, and hopefully, Gibbs will continue to impress. I do believe Gibbs will be a Rookie of the Year candidate in this offense, as OC Ben Johnson has stated Gibbs will have a large role.