3 Lions players named to PFWA all-rookie team for first time in decade

ALLEN PARK — In the current draft, general manager of the Lions Brad Holmes faced criticism for giving up the

seventh overall pick. This anger increased when Holmes selected tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr

Gibbs with the money he received.

Now, along with linebacker Jack Campbell, Gibbs and LaPorta have been chosen to the PFWA all-rookie team.

For those keeping score at home: Brian Branch, the fourth player selected in that class who just led Detroit in tackles

during a divisional-round playoff game, is not included in the trio of all-rookie players that Holmes’ most divisive

draft class produced, which is a franchise high since 2013.

In that particular game, LaPorta led them in receptions and Gibbs in rushes, and the rookie class as a whole scored

the most touchdowns in franchise history. This is all happening only a year after their previous rookie class broke the

NFL record for sacks. Just in case you were curious about how the Lions went from finishing last to playing in the

NFC championship game in just three seasons.

Holmes did an outstanding job once more, according to head coach Dan Campbell’s recent remarks. “Those two

decisions (of LaPorta and Gibbs) took a lot of flak, but it seems like they’re fine. Thus, I’m happy we have them.

Considering that LaPorta just finished one of the greatest rookie tight end seasons in history, his selection to the all-

rookie team is hardly surprising. His 859 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season put him among the top

three rookie tight ends ever. He also set an NFL record with 86 receptions.

In the regular-season finale, he sustained a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise, which raised questions about his

availability for the start of the playoffs. A week later, in a 24-23 victory against the Los Angeles Rams, he hauled in a

touchdown pass on fourth down. He added nine receptions for 65 yards, a franchise high, in the divisional-round

victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Although Gibbs got off to a slower start than LaPorta, he quickly made up for it with 126 yards from scrimmage and

one spectacular touchdown run in a Week 7 loss to Baltimore while David Montgomery was tending to an injury.

After that, he never let up, developing into one of the league’s most prolific home run hitters and concluding with

1,261 total yards from scrimmage, good for fifth place among all rookies in franchise history.

For more on that, speak with All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who watched as Gibbs stiff-armed after he juked in

the open field and crossed the goal line for a 31-yard touchdown that helped seal the victory over Tampa Bay. Against

one of the top run defenses in the league, Gibbs amassed a team-high 74 rushing yards on only nine carries, or an

average of 8.2 yards per carry.

Conversely, Campbell made significant progress throughout the season and ended up with 95 tackles on the

defensive end. Among the rookies in the league, that came in second.

Despite Branch’s superiority on the field, Devon Witherspoon of Seattle and Joey Porter Jr. of Pittsburgh were

chosen for the all-rookie team.

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