Pride of Detroit
After a strong year two, Lions’ third-year linebacker Jack Campbell is ready to make his mark as one of the NFL’s best at the position.
We are getting closer to Detroit Lions football every day, and as time marches forward this Summer, so does our roster preview series.
Next up, we have third-year linebacker Jack Campbell. Originally a first-round pick in Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes’ lauded 2023 draft class, Campbell has seen his role steadily grow since arriving in Detroit via the University of Iowa.
Previous previews: QB Jared Goff, QB Hendon Hooker, RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, WR Kalif Raymond, TE Sam LaPorta, OL Colby Sorsdal, OT Giovanni Manu, OT Penei Sewell, G Graham Glasgow, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, DL Pat O’Connor, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, LB Grant Stuard, CB Ennis Rakestraw, CB Terrion Arnold, DB Brian Branch, K Jake Bates, LS Hogan Hatten.
After splitting time between the MIKE and SAM linebacker roles during his rookie season, Campbell spent the 2024 offseason preparing to take over at the MIKE full-time. Given that MIKE is his natural position, many assumed this was always the plan when he was taken 18th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Campbell possesses all of the prerequisites to be an impactful three-down linebacker in this league for a long time. At six-foot-five and 243 pounds, Campbell has the size and physicality to be a force around the line of scrimmage and in the running game. When it comes to defending the pass, Campbell possesses fluid hips for such a big athlete, allowing him to operate comfortably in both man and zone concepts in the open field.
However, what sets Campbell apart even further is his mental approach to the game. His instincts are top-tier, and it’s easy to tell by the way that he plays the position that he watches plenty of film. The best linebackers are almost extensions of the coaching staff on the field. You have to understand what is happening on the line of scrimmage, as well as what your secondary is responsible for behind you.
With a full offseason to get ready, rather than prepare for the combine and quickly learn a new system, expectations were lofty going into his second season with the Lions.
18 games (18 starts) — 1,047 defensive snaps
Stats: 137 total tackles, 2 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, 1 forced fumble, and 5 pass breakups
PFF defense grade: 78.7 (10th out of 90 qualifying LBs - min. 20% of defensive snaps)
PFF run defense grade: 82.5 (13th out of 90)
PFF tackling grade: 83.1 (5th out of 90)
PFF coverage grade: 74.2 (9th out of 90)
PFF pass rush grade: 53.2 (76th out of 90)
For Campbell, 2024 largely went according to plan. He took the vast majority of his snaps at middle linebacker and quickly became one of my favorite players to...
