After using the No. 12 pick on an offensive player, the Lions are using their second first-round selection on a defender. Detroit is selecting Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell with the No. 18 pick.
Tossing caution to the wind regarding positional value for top-20 picks, the Lions have now taken a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) and an off-ball linebacker. After the Gibbs pick doubled as a borderline luxury investment, the Lions addressed a more pressing need with their second selection tonight.
This pick can be seen as a bit of a reach, however. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranked Campbell 58th overall coming into the draft; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah barely squeezed the Iowa product inside his top 50, slotting him 49th on his big board. Campbell finished the first round as the only off-ball linebacker selected. This was not believed to be a strong class at the off-ball positions, with neither the linebacker crop nor safety group — zero safeties went off the board in Round 1 — receiving tremendous pre-draft accolades.
Campbell brings intriguing size — at 6-foot-5, 249 pounds — and delivered bigtime production at the Big Ten program. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native combined for 265 tackles and four interceptions over the past two seasons. The former state champion high school basketball player earned All-American acclaim; he will join a Lions team that ranked last defensively in 2022.
Although the Lions improved down the stretch, Aaron Glenn‘s unit submitted ugly statistics on the whole. The Lions ranked last in total defense and 28th in points allowed. Pro Football Focus gave the Lions’ top linebackers middle-of-the-pack grades, slotting Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone just outside the top 45 at the position. Campbell will join this crew, which also includes Jalen Reeves-Maybin, whom the team brought back in late March. The Lions also re-signed Anzalone. In Campbell, however, the team made a bigger investment and bucked pre-draft rankings do so. Will the move pay off?
HATE this pick! WTF is Holmes doing tonight other than acting like a stoned to the bone teenager. He just destroyed the Lions bright future over the past 2 hours and I’m pissed!
Dang. Wanted him in Buffalo
Really wanted him for the Steelers, but at #49
The trade down allowed them to draft anyone they wanted at 12 but the Jack Campbell at 18 just stung. There’s nothing wrong with the players just where they were drafted.
After a feel good season from the Lions last year, they needed to crush this draft. They didn’t. Holmes took a step back taking a RB they didn’t need and a LB that was rated way down the list on most draft charts. They had their chance with 5 picks and they didn’t take a edge rusher to matchup with Hutchinson. Poor draft grade from me.
Round 1, No. 12: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB (Alabama)
Round 1, No. 18: Jack Campbell, LB (Iowa)
Round 2, No. 34 (from Cardinals):
Round 2, No. 48:
Round 2, No. 55 (from Vikings):
Round 5, No. 152:
Round 5, No. 159 (from Falcons through Jaguars):
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals):
Round 6, No. 183 (from Broncos):
Round 6, No. 194:
Hoping we have a better Day 2 draft. All the talk this offseason about need to improve the sorry a$$ defense and first selection is a RB. My jaw dropped when they called Gibbs name at 12. He must be replacing Swift, Montgomery just got on the squad. I like Jack Campbell but at 18 that felt a little high. We did pick up an early Day 2 pick at #34 lets see what we can do, still need: DL/EDGE, TE, S, IOL and CB .
Still Available
CB Joey Porter Jr.
S Brian Branch
TE Michael Mayer
Edge BJ Ojulari
OG O’Cyrus Torrence
Lets try to get at least 1 that we need.
It’s got to be Porter at 34. Right?!?
Unless Mad Man Dan Campbell has other plans. Wouldn’t be if shocked if he trades back from 34 just to stack more picks of less talented players lol.
I really like S B. Branch, guy is an elite talent but Steelers are going to grab him I suspect.
We find out tonight, Go LIONS!!
I know everyone is reactionary, but it’s only one round. Relax
You don’t get many drafts where you can choose two players in the first round – unless you make two bad choices like the Lions…
You seem to fancy yourself as quite the Lions expert.
Also, this you?
“Solid pick. Not spectacular, but solid.”