Report: Detroit Lions almost drafted Jahmyr Gibbs No. 6 overall
The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft saw the Detroit Lions make some rather head-scratching decisions with their selections. Originally slated with the No. 6 pick, Detroit traded back with the Arizona Cardinals to No. 12, evidently selecting former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
What was not known at the time is that if the Lions didn’t trade back, they would have likely taken Gibbs at No. 6 over players like Tyree Wilson and Jalen Carter, who were still available, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
“We didn’t think we’d do this at six,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said to Dan Campbell, according to Breer. “But who cares? He’s our favorite guy left.”
The Detroit Lions entered the draft with two first-round picks (6, 18). Their intended target with the sixth pick would have been Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks ruined that plan by taking Witherspoon No. 5 overall; Seattle has never drafted a corner higher than No. 90 during the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era.
Potentially selecting a running back No. 6 overall in today’s NFL is already pretty ludicrous. What is even crazier about the Lions drafting Gibbs is that he was not even the draft’s top-rated running back. The consensus top-rated running back coming out of college this year was Bijan Robinson, though he went No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons.
Had the Lions not traded back to 12, taking Gibbs before Robinson would have shaken up the draft immensely.
What will Detroit’s running game look like in 2023?
Campbell’s Lions ended last season one win shy of their first playoff berth since 2016. A large reason for their success was the NFL’s leading touchdown rusher in Jamaal Williams, who tallied a whopping 17 rushing touchdowns on his way to breaking Barry Sanders’ franchise record.
Along with Williams, Detroit’s rushing attack also included D’Andre Swift. Swift accumulated 2,878 yards from scrimmage, along with 25 touchdowns in his three seasons as a Detroit Lion.
But both are now with new teams. After being low-balled in contract negotiations with Detroit, Williams signed a three-deal in New Orleans. The Lions signed David Montgomery through free agency this offseason as his replacement. Selecting Gibbs No. 6 overall turned heads given the running back room of Detroit was solid with players like Montgomery and Swift.
But the Lions dealt D’Andre Swift to the Eagles on Day 3 of the draft; the teams swapped seventh-round picks and Detroit received a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The Detroit Lions had a dominant running back duo last season with Swift and Williams. Planning to replicate or improve their success with Montgomery and Gibbs just one year later is a major gamble. Only time will tell if it is enough to get them over the hump and into the playoffs this season.
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