Lions Select RB Jahmyr Gibbs with No. 12 Pick
The Detroit Lions have decided to select a running back in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
After trading back to the No. 12 position, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes decided to add to the team's running backs room by drafting Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
"Gibbs has average size, but he offers outstanding burst and versatility," said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. "As a runner, he excels when he can get to the perimeter, either from the backfield or from the slot on jet sweeps. He explodes to the edge. Gibbs can set up blocks in space, and rely on a nasty stiff-arm. On inside runs, he needs daylight. He lacks the lower-body power to push the pile. He has good vision, and he’s decisive."
After adding David Montgomery in free agency, it has become clear that the team covets running backs which are able to be utilized in the passing game.
"He is a weapon in the passing game, as he can run wide receiver routes and he easily catches the ball. In pass pro, he attacks linebackers, closing down their runway and stopping their charge. He is very aware," said Jeremiah. "Overall, Gibbs isn’t quite as strong as Alvin Kamara, but the rest of his game is almost identical to that of the Saints’ star running back."
Last season, Gibbs recorded 926 rushing yards and seven touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. In his career, he totaled 2,132 yards in three seasons. His first two were spent at Georgia Tech.
Prior to the selection of Gibbs, Detroit's running backs room featured Montgomery, D'Andre Swift and Craig Reynolds.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and head coach Dan Campbell will likely lean on the running game more during the early portion of the 2023 season, with wideout Jameson Williams having been suspended for the first six games of the season.
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