Detroit Lions first-round draft pick Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama talks with reporters during the players' introductory news conference at team headquarters in Allen Park on Friday, April 28, 2023. Lions 042823 Kd285
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
(Detroit, Michigan) — Watch out for the Detroit Lions – in particular Jahmyr Gibbs.
Lions.com’s Tim Twentyman projects the rookie to challenge D’Andre Swift’s 48 catches from last season.
“Gibbs might be the best receiving back I’ve seen in my 15 years covering the team,” Twentyman reported after watching Gibbs run routes at OTAs.
The Lions shocked the NFL when they nabbed the former Alabama running back No. 12 overall despite signing David Montgomery, formerly of the Chicago Bears, to a four-year contract.
Gibbs has already won the Lions’ offseason, repping with the first-team with Montgomery (leg) inactive.
The 21-year-old has already locked up passing down work and will compete to start this preseason, making there potential for a three-down role.
Speaking in June, Lions general manager Brad Holmes was sure to note that his team had big plans for its new talent.
“We didn’t acquire a running back in the first round. We acquired an elite weapon to keep our offense explosive.”
“When I first got with the Rams in 2003…I was a huge Marshall Faulk guy — just kind of seeing what he does in both phases. And just from a scouting standpoint, when Christian McCaffrey came out, he was the last guy that I was like, ‘Holy cow…I’m not sitting here saying Jahmyr Gibbs is those players, but (he’s) just a special weapon like that.”
The sky is the limit for the rookie….and that might be underselling him.
