NFL Scouts select Detroit Lions’ star 2023 Draft Class as the best

The 2023 season was one of the most memorable for long-time Detroit Lions fans.

Fans who had to watch their club languish at the basement of the NFC North for so long were taken on a wild journey when Dan Campbell guided the team to an unbelievable playoff run that nearly led to a Super Bowl appearance.

While the quality of the coaching and Campbell’s leadership contributed much to their current success, it might also be linked to the caliber of the rookies they selected in the 2023 Draft.

The rookies who defied expectations are now reaping the benefits of their efforts, and the Detroit Lions’ front office is being rewarded for their foresight.

NFL scouts lauded the Detroit Lions’ 2023 draft class.

According to Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman, the team was chosen as the recipient of the “Best Draft Award” by scouts throughout the league after watching their youngsters make significant contributions to their successful 2023 season.

He also described the doubts that individuals in and around the league had about the quality of the players they recruited for their team:

The Lions’ draft class saw plenty of criticism in the moment. In fact, a compilation and average of nearly 30 post-draft grades had the Lions ranking 25th in overall grade. Most of the criticism surrounded Detroit’s dismissal of positional value, breaking convention by taking a running back and off-ball linebacker in the first round.

However, it became clear throughout the 2023 NFL season that the Detroit Lions went into the draft with a strategy in mind. Despite their unusual draft picks, the rookies they chose flourished in their jobs.

Jahmyr Gibbs has been nothing short of a revelation in Dan Campbell’s running game during his first season. The Georgia Tech and Alabama graduate had 182 rushing attempts for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns. The fact that he had this number while playing backup to David Montgomery demonstrates how effective the run game has become.

Sam LaPorta proved to be the Detroit Lions’ draft steal, recording an NFL record of 889 receiving yards by a rookie tight end and 10 touchdowns. Jack Campbell contributed to the Detroit offense with 52 solo tackles and 2.0 sacks.

The Detroit Lions have a bright future ahead of them, and they hope to attract a crop of impact players in the 2017 draft.