In a season full of satisfying moments for Detroit Lions fans, an amusing one occurred in mid-December, when coach Dan Campbell had a chance to gloat a bit about the team’s approach in the most recent NFL draft.
The players in question were running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta, both of whom became key contributors after the Lions took them in the first and second rounds, respectively, last April.
“I’m just going to bring it back to Brad Holmes — it’s a hell of a job by him, once again,” Campbell said of the team’s general manager. “Took a lot of criticism for those two picks, but they look like they’re OK, so I’m glad we got them.”
The criticism the Lions received was less about the players’ talent than their positions, particularly in the case of Gibbs, who went 12th overall. But perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from Detroit’s approach — and from the other three teams remaining in the NFL playoffs.
The Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have all reached this point after making significant investments at positions that aren’t always prioritized around the league in today’s game.