After gassing up their offense at No. 12, the Lions added some thump to their defense at No. 18 with Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.
Campbell has the tools to be a defensive centerpiece for Detroit for years to come and the ultimate successor to Alex Anzalone. He was pegged as a potential second-round pick, but clearly Dan Campbell and the Lions see him as a three-down difference-maker.
And their defense could use one after allowing the most yards in the NFL last season.
The 2022 Butkus Award winner as the top linebacker in the country, Campbell racked up 125 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions last season at Iowa. He'll join a linebacker corps in Detroit featuring Anzalone, last year's breakout rookie Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes.
"I love Jack Campbell," longtime NFL Draft analyst Greg Cosell said this week on 97.1 The Ticket. "And I love when people say he’s old school. To me, a guy is either a good player or he’s not a good player, and he was one of the most enjoyable players I watched."
Campbell has NFL size and strength at 6'5, 249 lbs., which should help him make an instant impact in Detroit. He's an "outstanding run defender," says Cosell, and the Lions allowed the third most yards per rush (5.2) in the NFL last season. Campbell also appears to have NFL smarts.
"He was really, really good with key and diagnose," said Cosell. "He saw things immediately and it’s my understanding he’s working with (former Panthers All-Pro linebacker) Luke Kuechly. He had a great combination of being patient when he needed to be and being aggressive and decisive when he had to be."
"The big question with him, despite his height and his length, would be can he match up man-to-man on tight ends? But I really liked his tape a lot I think he’s a really good prospect."
In addition to Campbell, Brad Holmes and the Lions emerged from the first round with Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs and an extra second-round pick courtesy of trading down from No. 6 to No. 12.
Listen live to 97.1 The Ticket via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker