Round 1b: LB Jack Campbell ( Iowa ) : Pick # 18 ( 2023 )

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2023 NFL draft: Lions pick Iowa LB Jack Campbell with 18th overall selection

Detroit Lions pick Iowa's Jack Campbell, Big Ten's top defender, at No. 18 in NFL draft

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This new thread relates to the following threads:


Lions have Picks # 6 and # 18 in the 2023 NFL Draft

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1774/round-jahmyr-gibbs-alabama-pick

Round 1a: RB Jahmyr Gibbs ( Alabama ) : Pick # 12 ( 2023 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1774/round-jahmyr-gibbs-alabama-pick

Lions trade # 6 & # 81 to Cardinals for # 12, #34, & #168

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1773/lions-trade-81-cardinals-168

NFL Draft Preview: Linebackers ( 2023 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1690/nfl-draft-preview-linebackers-2023

Mock Draft ( 2023) - DLF Members

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1760/mock-draft-2023-dlf-members

In the 'NFL Draft Preview: Linebackers ( 2023 )' thread, I expressed the following:

Jack Campbell probably won't be drafted by the Lions with one of the team's 2nd Round picks, but I think he would be tempting for the Lions if he lasts to pick # 81 in Round 3.

Unlike with Jahmyr Gibbs who I thought the Lions would end up drafting (though with Pick # 48, in Round 2, certainly not even close to Pick # 12 in Round 1, I'm VERY surprised the Lions ended up drafting Jack Campbell. Especially, in Round 1, and as high as Pick # 18. Though I thought Campbell had an outside chance of being drafted in the last several picks of Round 1, I never envisioned him being drafted by any team with Pick # 18 and soon afterwards in the draft.

Possibly the greatest surprise of the Lions selecting Jack Campbell with Pick # 18, at least on this end, is the Lions regime headed by Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell haven't shown anything that suggests that off the ball LB would be a priority position in a draft or on the roster overall. This was the approach of the Rams when Brad Holmes was a key front office executive in their organization.

A question that jumps out is whether the Lions would have drafted CB Christian Gonzalez if he lasted to Pick # 18? The Lions already passed on Gonzalez with Pick # 6 and # 12. Yet, at # 18, it's possible the Lions would have drafted Gonzalez. The Lions used most of the 10 minute clock with Pick # 18, after the Patriots drafted Gonzalez with Pick # 17. It's likely the Lions were considering a trade or waiting to see if a good enough trade offer would be on the table for the Lions to risk losing Jack Campbell. My preference would have been for the Lions to trade down, risking losing Campbell. The Lions probably didn't value CB Joey Porter Jr. or CB Deonte Banks high enough to risk losing Campbell. Porter is still available after Round 1, while Banks was selected by the Giants with Pick # 24, after they traded up one spot with the Jaguars.

Jack Campbell has excellent intangibles. In addition to winning the Butkus Award as the top LB in College Football this past season, Campbell won the Academic Heisman. He's very smart, instinctive, and a ultra highly prepared player for each game. Great practice player as well. Campbell is more of a leader by example than a vocal leader. One thing in particular I'm highly confident about is the Lions drafted two players with very good football and overall character, in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Campbell is a very good athlete, as his very impressive 37 1/2 " vertical jump, at 6'4 1/2", 249, helps illustrate. Three concerns with Campbell as an NFL prospect are he has below average arm length for a LB (31'7/8"), he's not consistent enough playing lower often enough, and that he doesn't have quick twitch. Campbell seems much better suited to play Zone coverage, which was a major strength of his with Iowa, than Man to Man Coverage. Campbell's range, instincts, and upper body strength are major positives. He's usually a very secure tackler but sometimes has difficulties against quick and elusive Offensive skill players.

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Jack Campbell adds to Detroit’s linebacker rotation

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One advantage Jack Campbell has over Malcolm Rodriguez in Coverage is Campbell is much taller and has longer arms (even though they are below average for an Off the Ball LB) than Rodriguez.

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Instant grade of the Detroit Lions selection of LB Jack Campbell

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Jack Campbell is over 4 inches taller than Chris Spielman was as a player. Otherwise, there are a lot of similarities.

Campbell can cover a lot of ground with his range. But his lack of twitch is concerning against quick and elusive players.

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NFL Draft 2023: Round 1 Grades for Every Pick

18. Detroit Lions

Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

Strengths: Quick to recognize and trigger, physical downhill defender to stack and shed blockers, consistent tacklers, excels in zone coverage

Weaknesses: Stiffness in hips limits man-coverage ability, can be fooled by misdirection, adds little as blitzer/pass-rusher

Some prospects are so consistently good that they're almost overlooked or even downplayed to a certain degree.

Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell plays a devalued position. He did so at a midtier pipeline program. Yet everything about his profile screams he's an elite defender.

Production? 271 total tackles over the last two seasons. Athleticism? He's 6'5" and 249 pounds with a nearly perfect relative athletic score, per Pro Football Network's Kent Lee Platte. Intelligence? He's the reigning William V. Campbell Trophy winner, aka the academic Heisman.

Campbell also received the highest overall and pass-coverage grades from Pro Football Focus for any linebacker this past season.

Is he a perfect prospect? Of course not. Campbell is a little stiff, and he isn't going to lock down tight ends in coverage. But he's so smart that he excels as a zone-coverage defender.

No one else in this year's linebacker class has the same overall skill set, hence why he graded as the B/R Scouting Department's LB1. The unanimous All-American and reigning Butkus Award winner has almost everything he needs to excel in the NFL and continue his productive ways.

He had a Dan Campbell favorite written all over him. So it should be no surprise whatsoever that the Detroit Lions took the nation's best linebacker with the 18th overall pick. After the head-scratching pick of Jahmyr Gibbs earlier in the first round, Campbell's addition makes perfect sense.

He can immediately step into the lineup as the starting Mike backer, with Malcolm Rodriguez at Will and James Houston used as a situational Sam/hybrid edge-defender.

Now, all three levels of the Lions defense have significant investments. Last year, the franchise chose Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick. This offseason, the team beefed up its secondary with the free-agent additions of Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. Campbell can slide in and be the field general for the entire unit.

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This is well thought out analysis of the Jack Campbell selection by the Lions with Pick # 18.


While Jack Campbell 'can step into the lineup as the starting Mike backer, with Malcolm Rodriguez at Will"...., Alex Anzalone will very likely be starting for the Lions in the 2023 season, at one of the Lions off the ball positions. This coaching staff regards Anzalone much more favorably than the media and the Lions collective fan base.



Grade: B

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Lions 1st round LB Jack Campbell gets praised for leadership and potential

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Considering the players still available with Pick # 18, it's a credit to Jack Campbell that the Lions had him rated substantially higher than any remaining player.

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Jack Campbell and the Lions bucking the trend on positional values

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Jordyn Brooks is coming off a torn ACL knee injury, late in the 2022 regular season. That might have been a major factor in the Seahawks decision not to pick up the 5th year Option on Brooks.

The Lions might be viewing Jack Campbell as someone who the team brass expects to be one of the best Off the Ball LBs for at least his first 4 seasons, at a price that's favorable for the Lions. Even if, it becomes inefficient from a salary cap standpoint to continue the team-player relationship beyond 4 seasons.

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell was heavily sought by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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If the live draft clips in the video were in the order that they occurred, which I believe is the case, the Bucs cleared valued Jack Campbell amongst their preferred options. Even if Campbell was their 3rd preferred option as pick # 19 came closer, it's an indicator that the Lions would have been at significant risk of losing Campbell, if the Lions traded down to as high as pick # 20.

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Brad Holmes on Jack Campbell: 'Elite in every category' the Lions look for in a linebacker

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Brad Holmes' comments further reinforce why the Lions didn't make a serious attempt or any attempt to trade down, when on the clock with Pick # 18.

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1st-round pick Jack Campbell signs with the Lions

Detroit Lions ink first-round pick Jack Campbell; 3 rookies still unsigned

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Very good news! Jack Campbell is being counted on to be a huge part of the Lions Defense for at least the next several seasons.

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Jack Campbell will need to earn a starting role at linebacker

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This is the best approach. Every player should earn the opportunity to be a starter, regardless of draft status and/or contract.

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Rookie LB Jack Campbell loves the 'no excuses' standards with the Lions

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Jack Campbell is earning 1st Team Defensive snaps on merit. This should help make him a better player as a result.

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Inside the locker room: Lions' Jack Campbell says first NFL game was easier than practice

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This thread relates to the following thread:

Lions 21, Giants 16: Pre-Season Game # 1 (2023)

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1848/lions-giants-season-game-2023

If Jack Campbell builds off his very impressive performance vs. the Giants in the pre-season opener, I'm anticipating that he will get plenty of Defensive snaps when the regular season begins in Kansas City. This is regardless of whether Campbell is a Defensive starter or not.

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Jack Campbell fined for low hit on Jimmy Garoppolo


This thread relates to the following thread:

Lions 26, Raiders 14: Game # 8 (2023)

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1931/lions-26-raiders-game-2023

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Considering that Jimmy Garoppolo was at great risk for a major injury as a result of Jack Campbell's illegal hit, I believe the fine is appropriate.

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Rookie LB Jack Campbell earns praise from Aaron Glenn

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The following thread relates to this thread:

Packers 29, Lions 22: Game # 11 ( 2023 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1949/packers-29-lions-game-2023

It seemed like Jack Campbell played better vs. the Packers than he did vs. the Bears 4 days earlier.

How Jack Campbell performs in New Orleans later today will probably go a long way in determining the outcome of the game. Because Campbell is a hard worker, I'm confident he will do a good job from a mental standpoint against the Saints Offense. An Offense that has versatile weapons in Alvin Kamara and Tayson Hill, with the big time receiving ability of Chris Olave.