Many NFL teams appear to follow a cardinal rule: do not choose a running back in the first round, unless he is absolutely exceptional.
Bijan Robinson came off the board early in the first round of the 2023 draft, which was not surprising, but his landing position may have been. In contrast, Jahmyr Gibbs came as a surprise.
The Lions star was drafted sooner than projected, and few expected the Lions to be the destination for him or any other high-end running back prospect.
Here’s a look back at the Lions’ selection of Gibbs and the criticism they received for it.
When was Jahmyr Gibbs drafted?
The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft, four picks after the Falcons chose Robinson.
Gibbs was regarded as the clear second-best running back in the draft, although he was a fringe first-round possibility. He was ranked No. 33 in the NFL Mock Draft Database’s final consensus rankings, therefore most industry estimates saw him as a late first- or early second-round pick.
When the Lions mentioned Gibbs’ name, some interpreted it as a stretch. Others who thought Gibbs was deserving of coming off the board so early simply didn’t see the fit.
Detroit did have two first-round picks, but why would a team with a few holes to fill, particularly on defense, select a running back so high just a month after signing David Montgomery? The Lions also had D’Andre Swift on their roster at the time, but he was traded later in the draft.
Many analysts and sites criticized the Lions for their choices. The Athletic labeled it “an odd move,” Pro Football Focus called it “a big reach,” and The Ringer described Gibbs as “an undersized runner who does not project as a volume-heavy back.”
After moving down from No. 6 to No. 12, the Lions decided to live and die by the idea of picking the greatest player available, at least in that particular case. Thus far, so good. Gibbs recorded 1,929 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in his second NFL season, establishing himself as one of the league’s top offensive weapons.
As it turns out, front offices may have rated Gibbs higher than most estimates indicated. Gibbs stated after the selection that he “knew for a fact” that the Cowboys intended to grab him with the No. 26 pick, and that the Bengals pondered trading up into the late teens to select him.
Another source stated the Jets were pursuing Gibbs with the No. 15 pick, which would have been equally stunning given Breece Hall’s presence in New York’s backfield.
Nonetheless, Gibbs confessed that he had no anticipation of being drafted that early. The Lions sensed his potential and have realized it over the course of two seasons.
Jahmyr Gibbs’ collegiate stats
Season School Games Rushing yardsYPC, Rec., YardsTotal TD for 2020.Georgia Tech: 7 460 5.2 24 303 7 2021.Georgia Tech: 12 746 5.2 36 470 6 2022.Alabama: 12 926 6.1 44 44410 Career: 31 (2,132), 5.6 (104), 1,217 (23).
Gibbs didn’t dominate the stat sheet at Georgia Tech or Alabama, but his talent was on full show.
Gibbs handled the transition to Tuscaloosa with ease, averaging a career-high 6.1 yards per rush in his single season at Alabama and totaling well over 1,300 yards from scrimmage despite sharing runs with Jase McClellan.
Gibbs’ pace and pass-catching abilities left little doubt that he would carve himself a niche at the next level. However, the Lions recognized him as a future star.
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