The NFL draft is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Watching future rookies take the main stage and hug NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and seeing the shots of the players who elect to stay home with their families bring us all joy. The sins of the previous season are washed away as the quest for success begins anew even for the worst of teams. For teams like the Chiefs and Eagles, the reloading initiative takes place.

 

Filling in the pieces for great rosters isn’t foolproof, but it’s much easier than any other position to be in as an organization. I would even contend drafting with a terrible roster is easier than drafting with a middling stable. That’s where the Detroit Lions come into play. In 2021, they hired Head Coach Dan Campbell. After a long playing career in the NFL as a tight end, including a three-season stint with Lions, he quickly made the transition to the coaching ranks. In just ten years, Campbell made the leap from intern to HC.

Lions

Lions HC Dan Campbell – Brynn Anderson/AP Photo

After a 3-13 campaign to start his tenure in 2021, Campbell then led the Lions to a 9-8 record last season, causing a shift in expectations. America watched the Lions go from laughingstock to a competitive ball club. HBO’s docuseries “Hardknocks” chronicled their journey through training camp prior to the 2022 season. Seeing the process beforehand coupled with the 9-8 run to follow, America had not only begun to take the Lions seriously, but they were also rooting for them.

 

Outside of a couple Calvin Johnson & Barry Sanders led seasons, the Lions haven’t been taken seriously as a franchise. In fact, it’s one of the most losing franchises in all of football in the last 30 plus years. That brings us back to the drafting expectations. When you’ve been historically bad, and now field a competitive, albeit flawed roster, the spirit of unbelief will certainly linger over your every move.


After the first two rounds of the draft this year, that sentiment was echoed and then some by draft pundits, fans, and analysts who largely believed the Lions squandered a golden opportunity. The Lions traded out of the 6th overall pick in a swap with the Cardinals that landed them at the 12th spot. With that move, the Lions held the 12th overall, 18th overall, & 34th overall pick. They then used those respective picks to draft Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Iowa LB Jack Campbell, & Iowa TE Sam Laporta.
Lions

Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (26) – Cooper Neill/Getty Images


We don’t need to have the dreaded, and quite frankly fatuous, conversation about “positional value” again. Let’s just say the picks, and more namely the order they were taken in, were extremely controversial. The Lions also traded up three spots in the 2nd round to take Alabama DB Brian Branch who was a projected top 15 pick by certain estimations. While most were completely on board with the Branch pick, the discussion largely centered around the previous selections.

While a large portion of people didn’t love the picks, there was a faction, including myself, that absolutely loved them. Most importantly, the front office and staff loved their picks, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that. Not only did they love their picks, but they had a plan. I’ve always been of the mindset that you build a team inside out- overemphasize the trenches on both sides, then build from there. The Lions have done a fantastic job bolstering their trenches through previous drafts and other acquisitions.

 

From there, you don’t have to take as many risks on projects or high upside players that the community loves to place immense “value” on. For a team like the Lions, you don’t need two-to-four-year projects. You need immediate impact guys, or as I like to call them, “ball players”. You can have the shiny Lamborghini or Ferrari, but those usually come with an unsustainable amount of maintenance. Oftentimes you can’t truly get the most out of that purchase. Or, you can have the F-150 that is ready to haul a serious load and be as consistent as the day is long.

 

The Lions made their choice, and they made it against the grain. Through the first three games of the season, they’ve not only had the guts to play these rookies in a serious capacity, but they’ve also had a plan, and it’s paying off and then some. Here’s where the Lions rookies stand early on.

 

Brian Branch:

18 tackles, 3.5 TFL’s, 3 PBU’s, 1 INT, & 1 TD.

While the numbers are eye popping, they don’t truly do the play of Branch justice. His versatility in alignment, assignment, and his execution have been top tier. The high points that aren’t shown in the stat sheet are honestly more impressive. He’s a swiss army knife as a first year player.

Sam LaPorta:

18 receptions, 186 yards (leads all NFL TE’s), 1 TD, & 10.3 yards per catch.

LaPorta has proven to be a key cog in the Lions offense. With at least five catches in every contest so far this season, LaPorta figures to remain a constant. If this continues, the current league leader for reception yards by a TE could be looking at serious history down the line.

Jahmyr Gibbs:

31 attempts, 139 yards, & 4.5 yards per attempt. 10 receptions, 59 yards, & 5.9 yards per reception.

Gibbs usage has come into question at times already by many. While I’ve been one of the people hoping to see Gibbs used more, his impact on games so far can’t be questioned. His efficacy is impressive in such a reduced role. One that will presumably increase as the season goes along. In the two Lions wins this season two things have shined bright, stout defense, and Jahmyr Gibbs 4th quarter finishing runs.

Jack Campbell:

14 tackles, 1 sack, & 1 PBU.

While Campbell has the least flashy role, he’s fairly effective with his opportunities. Coming off his best game as a pro against the Falcons, where he registered a sack, I believe we’ll see more of a defined blitz package for Campbell in the future.