Friday, April 28, 2023

Afternoon Lions Links for Friday 4-28-23

Articles:


Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz raves about Lions LB Jack Campbell’s leadership, instincts:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/iowas-kirk-ferentz-raves-about-lions-lb-jack-campbells-leadership-instincts.html

Hear Lions’ draft call to Jahmyr Gibbs: ‘You should have heard our room just go nuts’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/hear-lions-draft-call-to-jahmyr-gibbs-you-should-have-heard-our-room-just-go-nuts.html

With Lions already fielding trade calls, D’Andre Swift facing uncertain future:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/dandre-swift-now-facing-more-uncertain-future-in-detroit-than-ever.html







Kelvin Sheppard: Jack Campbell Is 'Dan Campbell Guy':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/sheppard-jack-campbell-is-dan-campbell-guy

Grading Lions' Pick of LB Jack Campbell at No. 18:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/grading-lions-pick-of-jack-campbell

What Lions Are Getting in RB Jahmyr Gibbs:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/what-lions-getting-in-jahmyr-gibbs






Karsch and Anderson: "Love both players" for Lions, but was the value right?:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/karsch-and-anderson-react-to-detroit-lions-wild-draft-night


NFL Draft Preview, Day 2: Have the Detroit Lions Already Blown It?:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-preview-day-2-have-the-detroit-lions-already-blown-it/

Biggest winners and losers from Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft (Winners - LB JACK CAMPBELL:  Jack Campbell was No. 44 on the consensus big board and No. 39 on the PFF big board. Some mock drafts saw him sneak into the first round in the final few picks, but for him to be selected at No. 18 overall by the Detroit Lions must have exceeded his wildest expectations. There is a lot to like about Campbell, particularly in this draft that is weak at off-ball linebacker as well as thin when it comes to prototypical linebacker size, but that is still an obvious reach by the Lions. Campbell recorded a 91.9 PFF grade last season at Iowa and now gets to be at the center of an improving Detroit defense.  Losers - DETROIT LIONS:  The Lions made arguably the two biggest reaches in the first round, and they did it for players at non-premium positions. It’s difficult to spin that as anything other than a disappointing draft performance, even if the players end up succeeding.  There is a body of evidence that shows that reaching in the draft versus the consensus board leads to an increased failure rate of the picks, and the two players they selected represent a combined reach of 39 total picks relative to the two players’ position on the consensus board.  The one thing that saves things is the extra draft capital that they have been able to amass and what they can still do on Day 2.):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-biggest-winners-losers-day-1-2023-nfl-draft

Draft: Teams most likely to move up or down (Most likely to move up - Lions: We have already seen that Detroit is more than willing to move up or down the board multiple times, and the Lions owning the No. 34 pick might make the cost to move to 32 a bit lower than it would for some other teams. The Lions have repeatedly signaled confidence in Jared Goff, but landing Levis as a potential successor in the second round would be a strong move.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-draft-day-2-steelers-getting-calls-for-no-32-pick-which-teams-are-most-likely-to-move-up-or-down/

Most pressing draft needs for every NFL team on Day 2 (Lions: Defensive tackle.  First-round picks: Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12 overall) and Iowa LB Jack Campbell (No. 18 overall).  After drafting edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson, James Houston and Josh Paschal a year ago, Detroit's primary need is defensive tackle. The Lions could stand to find a long-term star at the cornerback position if the opportunity presents itself. Tight end is also a need after trading T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota, but it is not a vital part of the offense. Could they also ponder the idea of taking a quarterback?):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-most-pressing-positional-needs-for-every-nfl-team-ahead-of-day-2/

Big-name trade candidates for 2023 NFL Draft (D'Andre Swift:  The writing is on the wall for this one. Detroit let Jamaal Williams leave in free agency, but signed David Montgomery to a multi-year deal and then drafted Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick on Thursday night. The coaching staff seemed extremely reluctant to give Swift all that big a workload already last season, and now the backfield is even more crowded. It seems like just a matter of time before he's dealt.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-draft-trade-candidates-derrick-henry-dandre-swift-among-12-big-name-veterans-who-could-be-moved/

NFL Draft 2023: Top landing spots for QB Hendon Hooker (6. Lions:  After a spendy offseason upgrading the secondary, Detroit is well-rounded for a playoff run under Dan Campbell, who's repeatedly endorsed Jared Goff as the starting QB. But even if Goff is entrenched for another year, the Lions have two draft picks in the second round -- Nos. 48 and 55 -- to possibly address the future. If Hooker slips to them, they could be forced to entertain his blend of pocket poise and natural athleticism, with Goff only signed through 2024. It's not often you have the resources to address such a vital position.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/hendon-hooker-landing-spots-titans-among-teams-that-could-land-tennessee-qb-in-second-round/


NFL draft's most questionable first-round picks: One team baffles twice (1. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama (No. 12, Detroit Lions) - Without question, this stood as the clear stunner of the draft's first day, so much so that Gibbs told reporters he too was "shocked" by the move.  The Georgia Tech transfer received significant buzz as a likely first-round pick earlier this week, but most assumed that would be on the back end of the order. Instead, he ends up as the second-highest selection at running back since 2019, with classmate Bijan Robinson being the only player to bump him out.  That's pretty lofty capital for a 5-9, 199-pounder. Gibbs has been likened to New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara thanks to his explosiveness and all-purpose ability, but Kamara is 16 pounds heavier. And while adding a player with his big-play potential as a receiver could be a boon to the offense, it's hard to shake the sense that the value doesn't line up here. Wouldn't Gibbs have easily have been available six slots later for Detroit's next opportunity? The Lions bypassed several figures who could have been better building blocks for the long term – most notably Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who went No. 17 to the New England Patriots.  And after doling out a three-year, $18 million deal earlier this offseason so David Montgomery could join D'Andre Swift in the backfield, Detroit's balance seems out of whack. This seems like the move that a bona fide contender would try to make to put itself over the top. The Lions are close to ending their playoff drought, but this is a luxury they can't afford.  2. Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa (No. 18, Lions) - One befuddling pick begets another, apparently.  With the second of their two first-round choices, the Lions once again flouted convention by making a choice with diminishing positional value. The recent record of first-round linebackers is fairly ugly, and the 6-5, 249-pound Campbell plays more like a throwback than a new-era defender.  Given his frame and production operating from the middle of the defense, the linebacker seems like a natural fit for Lions head coach Dan Campbell. But despite his impressive athletic testing, he doesn't exhibit much of a flair for making big plays (three sacks in 43 career games), instead allowing the action to come to him.  Campbell has plenty to offer a defense. But for a team that could have used a cornerback or defensive tackle – and perhaps could have traded back into the end of the first round if it so sorely wanted the linebacker – this was a poor use of a key asset for a draft class that seems like it's out of another era.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2023/04/28/nfl-draft-first-round-questionable-lions-jahmyr-gibbs-jack-campbell/11757382002/

6 teams who should gamble on Will Levis on Day 2 of the NFL Draft (2. Detroit Lions:  The Lions have a bajillion second-rounders (fine, it’s three). Jared Goff isn’t their long-term answer. Grab Levis and you’ve got two other picks to use to fill out a roster that can compete for a postseason spot. It’s that easy.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/will-levis-nfl-draft-teams-day-2

2023 NFL draft: Winners, losers of the 1st round (Loser: Detroit Lions - The Lions had two picks, and they not only reached on them but did it for players at non-premium positions. Detroit could’ve taken running back Bijan Robinson with the No. 6 overall selection, but instead, they moved back only to draft Jahmyr Gibbs. Don’t get me wrong, Gibbs is a great player, but Robinson was right there for the taking. The Lions followed that up by taking linebacker Jack Campbell. I get it, hard-nosed and blue-collar player for head coach Dan Campbell, but it was just too soon.):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-winners-losers-eagles-seahawks-will-levis/

2023 NFL draft: 4 biggest surprises of the first round (How 'bout those running backs?  I was shocked when the Atlanta Falcon selected Texas running back Bijan Robinson No. 8 overall and I was even more shocked when the Detroit Lions followed that up with Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall. There is no more replaceable position in the NFL than running back and no elite team builds from running back first so these picks made no sense.):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-cj-stroud-will-levis/

Top takeaways from Day 1 of the 2023 NFL draft (The Lions roar at positional value - In the modern NFL, some positions are more important than others. At the bottom end of the value chart for most teams, you’ll find running back, off-ball linebacker, offensive guard and tight end.  Lions GM Brad Holmes doesn’t care. He showed that by selecting Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall (after a trade back) and doubling down by taking Iowa LB Jack Campbell six spots later. Holmes then told the gathered media that he doesn’t really worry about positional value in his Thursday night press conference, too.  The Lions landed two very talented players. Make no mistake about that. But for a team that signed free agents to multi-year contracts at both positions less than two months ago, drafting lesser-valued positions in the top 20 i a curious decision.  Now if Holmes comes out and uses two of Detroit’s three second-round picks on a tight end and a right guard, expect the fan trust to evaporate quickly.):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/top-takeaways-from-day-1-2023-nfl-draft-eagles-texans/

NFL Draft 2023: 5 Winners And Losers Of Night 1 (LOSER: DETROIT LIONS - The Lions were arguably the catalysts of the first jaw-dropping moment when they drafted former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at 12th overall after a trade-down with the Arizona Cardinals. It’s especially surprising since Detroit signed free-agent ball-carrier David Montgomery to a three-year contract earlier this summer. Montgomery’s annual average salary of $6 million was the second-highest contract signed by a running back in free agency. D’Andre Swift is also on the roster but appears to be the odd man out.  Another mini-surprise arrived at 18 overall when the Lions drafted linebacker Jack Campbell, a projected second-round defender. Campbell and Gibbs are both great prospects, but the positional value is extremely questionable. The Lions had bigger needs to address, like one at cornerback.):  https://thedraftnetwork.com/nfl-draft-2023-winners-losers-night-1/

Grades:

2023 NFL draft grades: Lackluster marks for the Lions’ first-round picks:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/2023-nfl-draft-grades-lackluster-marks-for-the-lions-first-round-picks.html

2023 NFL Draft: Grading all six Round 1 trades, including the Eagles' move up for Jalen Carter (THE ARIZONA CARDINALS TRADE UP TO NO. 6 TO SELECT PARIS JOHNSON JR. - The Cardinals were linked to Johnson in the lead-up to the draft, and they made sure they landed their guy by giving up some of the house money they earned through the trade with the Texans.  Here's what I like about this trade for the Cardinals: Including the swap of later picks makes this a fairly reasonable trade compared to past trades in that range. For example, the Bills had to give up two second-round picks to go from No. 12 to No. 7 in 2018, while the Cardinals gave up only one second-round pick (though it is higher) and also moved up 90 spots later in the draft. The Dolphins gave up a mid-first-round pick and some change to move from No. 12 to No. 6 in 2021.  What I don’t like: The Cardinals traded up specifically to draft the best of the four top-tier offensive tackles. Historical data shows that we (as well as NFL teams) can’t be really confident about picking the best among a tier of players at the same position. Waiting and taking the offensive tackle who fell to them would have been preferred here.  From the Lions' perspective, this was a fine trade that left them with five top-60 picks. Let’s not talk about what they did with their 12th overall pick.  Cardinals Grade: C.  Lions Grade: B.):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-grading-all-six-round-1-trades-including-the-eagles-move-up-for-jalen-carter

2023 NFL Draft:

TWENTYMAN: 10 prospects who could interest Lions on Day 2:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/10-prospects-lions-draft-day-2-porter-branch-mayer




Top 10 players available for the Lions on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/4/28/23701937/top-10-players-available-detroit-lions-day-2-2023-nfl-draft


Who are the best remaining players available for Day Two of the 2023 NFL Draft?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/who-are-the-best-remaining-players-available-for-day-two-of-the-2023-nfl-draft

Podcast:


Video:

Which player found the best fit in first round? | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/which-player-found-the-best-fit-in-first-round-gmfb

What was the biggest shocker of round one? | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/what-was-the-biggest-shocker-of-round-one-gmfb


Posted by LionsFan at 1:10 PM

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