The Detroit Lions enter the offseason looking to rebound from an early exit in the playoffs after ending the regular season with a 15-2 record. Detroit has had a lot of change due to coaches and coordinators leaving for new opportunities.
However, despite those changes, the Lions hope to add more talent to their roster as they try to get to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. One of the ways to accomplish this is through the NFL draft.
The Lions have done a great job finding talent in the draft over the years, leading to their rise over the last two years. Brian Branch, one of the Lions' draft picks in 2023, has already become a Pro Bowler due to his versatility in the secondary.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back was on social media on Saturday and made it clear that he wants GM Brad Holmes to take Jihaad Campbell.
Bring him home https://t.co/wNSENtjdo0
— Alpha🐕 (@BrianBB_1) March 1, 2025
Branch had the opportunity to play with Campbell at the University of Alabama in 2022. That was Branch’s last year with the Tide, but Campbell’s first year with the team.
Campbell is considered a first-round pick by most mock drafts and could be on the board when the Lions make their pick at No. 28 overall. However, the former Crimson Tide linebacker had a good showing at the NFL combine, which will only increase his stock in the weeks leading up to the draft.
The Lions could use another off-ball linebacker as their depth was tested this past season due to the amount of injuries on defense. In his final year with the Tide, Campbell had 117 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass deflections, and an interception.
Detroit shockingly did not take a linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft after taking three LBs in the prior two drafts. With a player like Campbell available, it wouldn’t be a bad move for Detroit to go back to that philosophy.