Lions GM sends strong message to draft analysts that criticized Jahmyr Gibbs selection
The Detroit Lions' decision to select Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has been heavily criticized by analysts. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, for example, said this week that Detroit's selection of Gibbs was the most "surprising" decision of the draft. Miller is one of […]
The Detroit Lions' decision to select Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has been heavily criticized by analysts.
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, for example, said this week that Detroit's selection of Gibbs was the most "surprising" decision of the draft.
Miller is one of several draft analysts that share that sentiment.
On Tuesday morning, Lions general manager Brad Holmes appeared on 97.1 The Ticket and he fired back at some of the draft analysts that have criticized the Gibbs pick.
Holmes acknowledged that he respects the work that draft analysts put in to evaluate players, but he also pointed out that they don't have the same information that NFL teams have on draft prospects.
"You know, the person who doesn't have much information, and put in less time of work, is kind of disappointed (with) the person who has all the information and put in the most time of work," said Holmes (via The Detroit News). "Again, it's no disrespect. They're not supposed to have that information. They're not supposed to grind it for hours and hours, hundreds of hours over weeks for nine straight months."
"And also, I always say just because a player plays another position doesn't automatically make them a really good player," continued Holmes. "Just because somebody plays defensive end or offensive tackle or whatever those 'premium positions' are, that doesn't automatically make them instinctive, productive, smart, top intangible, those things that we look for as a Detroit Lion."
That was basically a nice way for Homes to tell draft analysts that they don't know what he knows about Gibbs. And he's right. Holmes and his staff are the ones that spent time in person with these players. They went to games, talked directly to coaches, put the players through workouts, etc.
Gibbs is a dynamic player that can be a game-changer.
And game-changers, regardless of the position, are incredibly difficult to find in the NFL. The Lions saw their chance to add one to the roster and they took it.
I think I'd trust the man whose job might depend on the Gibbs selection working out.
