Lions GM forecasts impact Jahmyr Gibbs will have in offense

Some fans were surprised when the Detroit Lions selected Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but Lions General Manager Brad Holmes had a plan.

Running backs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams led the Lions in rushing last year and represented their one-two punch out of the backfield. But after not resigning Williams before the draft and trading Swift later in the draft, it was clear that Detroit was headed in another direction regarding their running back room.

That new direction starts with Gibbs, who as a prospect caught the attention of Holmes when he began to show flashes of other NFL greats. And on the ‘The Season with Peter Schrager‘ podcast, Holmes revealed what stood out about Gibbs.

“When I first got with the Rams in 2003, Marshall Faulk was still there, and I was a huge Marshall Faulk guy — just kind of seeing what he does in both phases ,” Holmes said. “And just from a scouting standpoint, when Christian McCaffrey came out, he was the last guy that I was like, ‘Holy cow, this guy can run routes like a slot receiver but also run it.’ So, you start getting reminders of those players.”

Gibbs did establish himself as one of the most versatile running backs in the country following his lone season with the Crimson Tide. He averaged an impressive 6.1 per carry last season, rushing for 926 and seven touchdowns. But he also led the team in receptions with 44 catches on the year for 444 yards and three receiving scores.

He’s even a standout kickoff returner, racking up 1,052 return yards in three seasons with one kick-six. But comparisons to Faulk and McCaffery are quite lofty for the offensive Swiss Army knife.

“I’m not sitting here saying Jahmyr Gibbs is those players, but just a special weapon like that,” Holmes added. “We have a lot of excitement and optimism.”

Holmes spent a decade as a scout for the Rams before being promoted within the organization to director of college scouting, staying in that role until he became Detroit’s general manager and executive vice president in 2021.

The Lions also signed former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery to a three-year, $18 million contract in March to pair with Gibbs. Montgomery is a veteran back with a different skill set than Gibbs, providing a more powerful option for Detroit to play in between the tackles and downhill.

The duo could complement each other very well, and if Gibbs can live up to the hype given by his general manager, then the league’s fifth-best scoring offense from a season ago could be even more lethal this upcoming season.