Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama, Jack Campbell from Iowa and general manager Brad Holmes pose during the players' introductory news conference at team headquarters. Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kirk Herbstreit has bizarre stance on Lions' first-round draft haul

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/29/23

Many draft experts were in agreement that the Detroit Lions' pick of running back Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall on Thursday night was the biggest head-scratcher of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Although, Detroit’s selection of Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell 18th overall might have been a close second.

However, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit had a different assessment of the situation. During an interview with “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday morning, Herbstreit confessed that he was actually quite impressed with the two players the Lions come away with.

New Lions draft picks pic.twitter.com/rNbTUuL2vh
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) April 28, 2023

“The one team that stood out to me a little bit on that first night was Detroit,” Herbstreit said. “They picked up a back that’s…I don’t know if people who follow the NFL realize what Jahmyr Gibbs is going to be for Detroit. Think about what Detroit did last year offensively, and now you get that weapon? Think of Alvin Kamara, think of Christian McCaffrey — that’s who he is. …He is a matchup nightmare. That was a great pick.”

The Kamara/McCaffrey comparison aside, the Gibbs pick didn’t make a ton of sense.

Many scouts and league executives considered the 21-year-old tailback a borderline first-rounder, and most gave him a second-round grade. Plus, Detroit already has former first-round pick D’Andre Swift and free-agent signing David Montgomery on the roster.

And if taking a running back 12th overall wasn’t odd enough, Detroit threw draft watchers another curveball when it picked Campbell ahead of higher-rated linebackers, including Trenton Simpson and Drew Sanders — a move Herbstreit applauded.

“Then they turn around and got Jack Campbell...that kid is a freak,” Herbstreit continued. “[He’s] 6-5, 240 and can run. Probably the most productive linebacker we have seen over the last two years combined in college football, and they pick him up. Man, I thought Detroit got off to a great start last night.”

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