Lions roster preview: Jahmyr Gibbs could be top RB in NFL soon

After two impressive seasons, the best is yet to come for Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

For years, the Detroit Lions have needed help in the backfield, and the past two years have been some of the best we have seen, possibly since Barry Sanders was back there. The duo of Sonic and Knuckles, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, has been easily the best running back duo in the NFL. The backfield isn’t a one-man show, and both are happy to share the snaps with the other. They compete with each other and bring out the best in one another.

When the Lions drafted Gibbs back in 2023, it was a questionable move. Not just because of where he was picked in the first round, but the team already signed Montgomery in free agency. So the move seemed a little rich to take a first-round running back to get playing time when they signed a starting-level running back in Montgomery to do just that.

Well, we have seen just why general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell wanted Gibbs on the team to pair with Montgomery. In the first two seasons, we have seen Montgomery get the starts and Gibbs get just as much playing time as the 1B to Montgomery’s 1A, but I think the roles are about to flip this season.

Let me explain why I think not only could Gibbs be the new starter, but also he could become the best running back in the NFL this season.

Previous installments: RB Sione Vaki , WR Jameson Williams , TE Sam LaPorta , EDGE Aidan Hutchinson , DT Brodric Martin , K Jake Bates

Jahmyr Gibbs

Expectations heading into 2024

After an impressive rookie season where Gibbs was just 55 yards away from 1,000 rushing yards, the Lions wanted to see more out of speedy back. They were hoping to see what he could do with more carries and if he could expand his game in the receiving role.

Gibbs wasn’t ready yet to take over the starting job from Montgomery, but if he could improve from 2023, he could become the next starting running back. While it truly doesn’t matter who starts between Montgomery and Gibbs, it’s still important to see if Gibbs could turn from the 1B into the 1A, and carry the full load, if necessary

Actual role in 2024

Note: Stats are regular season only unless otherwise stated

17 games (4 starts)
Stats: 250 carries for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns; 52 catches for 517 yards and four touchdowns.
PFF Offensive Grade: 88.5 (t-6th out of 57 qualifying RBs — minimum 69 carries)
PFF Run Grade: 90.7 (4th out of 57)
PFF Receiving Grade: 74.4 (t-12th out of 57)

Gibbs answered the call loudly for the Lions in 2024. While he had the same number of catches as in 2023, he scored three more touchdowns than the year before and got 201 more yards. His receiving game was an impressive part he improved upon, but where he shined the most was on the ground running the football. Gibbs didn’t just break 1,000 yards in his second season; he finished with 1,412 yards, the fifth most in the NFL. While that is nice, it’s even better when you look at how many carries he had compared to the players ahead of him.

1. Saquon Barkley – 2,005 yards on 345 carries, 5.8 yards per carry.
2. Derrick Henry – 1,921 yards on 325 carries, 5.9 yards per carry.
3. Bijan Robinson – 1,456 yards on 304 carries, 4.8 yards per carry.
4. Jonathan Taylor – 1,431 yards on 303 carries, 4.72 yards per carry.
5. Jahmyr Gibbs – 1,412 yards on 250 carries, 5.7 yards per carry

If Gibbs got the same number of carries as Barkley and kept his 2024 pace, he would have ended with 1,954 yards, just 51 shy of what Barkley finished with. Gibbs also finished the year tied with Henry and Buffalo Bills running back James Cook with the most rushing touchdowns with 16. The reason why Gibbs wasn’t given more opportunities was that he isn’t the lone star running back on the roster, which keeps him fresh and helps his longevity in the NFL.

Gibbs was asked to do more in 2024, not just due to the coaching staff wanting to see more from him, but Montgomery did miss three games with an injury that forced Gibbs to be the three-down back. Gibbs answered the call with a vengeance, as he came up big in the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings with 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Throughout the season, Gibbs made spectacular plays almost every week. His ability to cut on a dime and make defenders look silly became a weekly tradition. He would get around the corner and turn on the jets with the entire defense chasing after him down the field. He also showed more of his physical side, showing he isn’t just a speedy running back. Overall, Gibbs had a fantastic sophomore season in the NFL.

Outlook for 2025

Gibbs will have to adjust to the two biggest changes he will see in the upcoming season: an offense not run by former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and an offensive line without Frank Ragnow. Gibbs and the offense could very well take a step back due to both of these adjustments, but I’ve got a feeling these adjustments will only make Gibbs play better. He and the offense will have a chip on their shoulder with people doubting them, which will only motivate him and the rest of the offense to prove everyone wrong.

The run game will be impacted the most with the loss of Ragnow , as the interior lanes might not be as wide open as they would be before. That means Gibbs will have to use his skillset of finding another hole quickly, creating one himself physically, or being a bit more patient and finding the gap when it opens up. Just because Ragnow retired doesn’t automatically eliminate the Lions from doing well. The Philadelphia Eagles lost Jason Kelce, and the next year they won the Super Bowl without him, and the offense seemed to do just fine.

I’m not saying the Lions won’t miss Ragnow, but I believe the team can overcome the challenge of not having him. Gibbs will be looked at to try and take another step forward, and I think he could contend with Barkley and Henry to be considered the best running back in the NFL. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, he has the third-highest odds (+1300) to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.

“We’ve tweaked a few things here and there — how he sees it, how he wants things run, how he wants to isolate certain players,” said Campbell of new offensive coordinator John Morton’s vision for the offense. “A lot of the focal points were wide receiver Jameson Williams and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, among others, and then getting the offense in. I thought we did that. I thought we really honed in on their versatility and all things they can do.”

With an even better season than he had last year, I think Gibbs in 2025 will slowly start to become the 1A in the backfield, putting Montgomery in the 1B role, despite his contract extension last season . Gibbs’ ability to be a more dynamic playmaker as a receiver could be used more than ever so far in his career, which could set him apart from the top running backs, as he had the third most receiving yards for running backs last season. If Gibbs can expand his receiving game and do even more on the ground, he could take over as the new top back in the league.