Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell is ‘Mr. Can Do It All,’ and maybe a fit for Detroit Lions
—
Picking players for a mock draft can be a mind-bending exercise.
You start with a pool of qualified talent, you try to match fit and personality and traits with team need, and you shuffle players based on whatever rumors you hear.
And when it comes to the Detroit Lions, you can take need out of the equation.
For four years now, Lions general manager Brad Holmes has been clear about his draft philosophy: Take the best available player who fits the team.
Hehastalkedaboutnothavingdepthchartsinhisdraftroom.Heworea“PositionalVillain”sweatshirttodrivehomethepointlastyear.Andhistoryshows,especiallyearlyinthedraft,he’samanofhisword.
In2023,Holmesforeshadowedthefirst-roundpicksofJahmyrGibbsandJackCampbellwhenhewarnedaboutamonthbeforethedraftthatteams“canmakealotofmistakes”draftingforneed.TheLionstradeddownfromNo.6toNo.12inthefirstroundandtookGibbs,araretop-15runningback,andaddedCampbell,anoff-balllinebacker—anotherpositionoftenpusheddowndraftboardsbecauseofvalue—sixpicksla
