Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs has burst onto the NFL scene since the Detroit Lions selected him 12th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Despite being in a clearly defined tandem with veteran David Montgomery, Gibbs has emerged as one of the top five to 10 running backs in the entire NFL over the past season and a half. Ranks in the top 10 of NFL running backs in rushing yards (1,672, 10th), yards per carry (5.5, second), rushing touchdowns (17, fifth), yards from scrimmage (2,190, eighth), yards from scrimmage per touch (5.8, third) and touchdowns from scrimmage (19, eighth) despite his 304 career carries being the 20th most in the league since 2023, while his 378 touches of his career rank 18th in the NFL.
However, in another series of events, one of the NFL’s most efficient running backs could have landed with a team or two if Detroit had opted not to draft him as high as they did in 2023. Gibbs himself actually didn’t even expect to be a lion when the air current arrived.
“To Detroit, no, I really didn’t. [expect to go there]. I knew they liked me, but when you go visit, it seems like everyone likes you,” Gibbs told retired Super Bowl champion cornerback Richard Sherman on “The Richard Sherman Podcast” on Thursday. “It was crazy to find out. In fact, Dallas would get me at 26 if I was still there, and a couple other places like Cincinnati would get me. I think they [the Bengals] We were going to trade up to 18 or something around that range. “I didn’t think I was going to finish 12th.”
|
carry |
304 |
20 |
|
Fast yards |
1,672 |
10th |
|
Yards/transport |
5.5 |
2nd |
| fast TD | 17 | 5th |
|
touches |
378 |
18 |
|
Hitting Yards |
2,190 |
eighth |
|
Scrimmage yards per touch |
5.8 |
3rd* |
| scrimmage TD | 19 | eighth |
* Among 57 runners with at least 150 touches since 2023
The Cowboys could really use Gibbs right now. Since Pro Bowler Tony Pollard left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency last season and Dallas opted to start two rookies on the offensive line (first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle) and center (first-round pick third-round pick Cooper Beebe), now have the second-worst running game in the league, averaging just 83.7 rushing yards per game. The Bengals are in a similar situation with their running game, averaging the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL (89.7). Cincy traded starter Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans this offseason, and his replacement, Zack Moss, is likely out for the rest of 2024 with a neck injury.
Dallas ended up drafting defensive tackle Mazi Smith from Michigan 26th overall, while the Bengals selected running back Myles Murphy from Clemson 28th overall. The Cowboys are still waiting for Smith to prove himself, as Pro Football Focus ranks him as their lowest-graded defensive tackle in the entire NFL (30.3 defensive PFF, last of 120 qualified defensive tackles). Cincinnati is in a similar position with Murphy as PFF grades him 92nd (54.3 PFF defensive grade) out of 112 qualified edge rushers. Both franchises are wondering what would happen if it’s Gibbs thanks to the Lions’ aggression in selecting a running back within the first 15 picks in 2023.
