Since entering the NFL in 2023, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has become one of the league’s most dynamic players. The 11th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs ranks seventh in rushing yards (3,580) and third in rushing touchdowns (39) while ranking third among running backs in receptions (181), receiving yards (1,449) and receiving touchdowns (10) and could be in line for an even bigger role under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Simply put, when people compare another running back to Gibbs, people listen. But sometimes it can be taken too far, especially in the case of Minnesota Vikings rookie Demond Claiborne.
The sixth-round rookie out of Wake Forest was the latest to draw a comparison to Gibbs when his new teammate, Aaron Jones talked to reporters after Wednesday’s minicamp practice. While describing the difference in defensive linemen between the collegiate level and the NFL, Jones said Claiborne has the same speed and burst as the Lions superstar, which should draw a collective laugh from everyone in Detroit.
“I just let him know, hey, it opens and closes a lot faster,” Jones said. “But he has the speed to trail-blaze and get through there. Honestly, it looks a little bit like Jahmyr Gibbs in terms of that speed and that burst. So I’m excited to see it as well.”
Vikings believe they have a “diet” version of Jahmyr Gibbs
Running backs are one of the least predictable positions in terms of their ability to transition to the NFL. But Jones’s praise gave Claiborne a high bar to clear. He ran for 2,599 yards and 26 touchdowns during his four-year collegiate career at Wake Forest and became part of the passing game with 51 catches for 394 yards and two touchdowns in his final two seasons. In addition, Claiborne ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process which was similar to Gibbs’s time of 4.36 seconds.
Because of that, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis told KFXN’s Paul Allen in April that some NFL staffers saw Claiborne as “a Diet Coke version” of Gibbs and Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane. Lewis’s colleague Dane Brugler also called Claiborne “a diet version” of Achane in his scouting guide “The Beast.” MockDraftable piled on with an 83 percent comparison to Gibbs based on height and speed, but it will take more than a similar build to live up to that hype.
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Gibbs’s vision is one thing that makes him elite and has helped him manage 5.3 yards per carry during his first three seasons. While standing at 5-foot-9, he also can absorb hits, which has helped him gain 3.09 yards after contact in his career according to Pro Football Focus. Gibbs is also efficient as a receiver, as his 1.67 yards per route run ranked fourth among running backs last season and he also catches the ball when its thrown his way with a 4.9 percent drop rate in 2025.
Of course, comparing a rookie to Gibbs is more exciting than comparing him to Claiborne’s top MockDraftable comparison Trung Candidate. Even Gibbs had awkward comparisons before entering the NFL including Steve Slaton and his new teammate, Isiah Pacheco. But Gibbs isn’t on the verge of a massive contract extension because he’s similar to his peers. He’s a unique breed that makes it a long shot that Claiborne will live up to the hype.
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