The Detroit Lions went against the grain to take Jack Campbell 18th overall in the 2023 draft, but he proved them right with how productive he was as a rookie (95 total tackles, two sacks). Still, there was clear and expected progress to be made in some areas heading into Year 2 and by all accounts during the offseason Campbell was getting it done.
Amid all the injuries the Lions have dealt with on the defensive side of the ball this season, Campbell has been a steady presence, playing all 17 regular season games and rarely leaving the field (89 percent snap share; every defensive snap in nine games, including the final seven).
Campbell had a team-leading 131 total tackles during the regular season, along with 1.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and five pass breakups.
That last statistic is a reflection of some notable progress Campbell made this year. He really struggled in coverage as a rookie, like a rookie off-ball linebacker might (the eye test backed his 35.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus).
This season, with a mixed bag in surface data (passer rating allowed, etc.) but general improvement overall that was easy to see, Campbell earned a 72.2 coverage grade from PFF (10th-best among linebackers).
Jack Campbell's breakout campaign proven further by PFF accolade
The task was probably not very easy when it came to the Lions, but Bradley Locker of PFF named Campbell their "secret superstar" for the 2024 season.
"Despite the Lions suffering through what almost seemed like a true injury curse, Campbell remained a steady playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. Across 973 snaps, Campbell generated a career-high 77.4 PFF overall grade. His well-rounded college game translated in Year 2, with Campbell one of four qualified linebackers to record 80.9-plus PFF run-defense and tackling grades. The Iowa product has played up to his first-round pedigree and is a core member of one of the NFL’s best defenses."
It's not perfect science, but it's often said that NFL players make their biggest leap from Year 1 to Year 2. That's when a year of experience can get melded with talent to foster a breakthrough. Campbell followed that template this year, and fully asserted himself as a core piece of the Lions' defense for years to come.