Here's a scary thought: There's a world where Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs nearly ended up on the New York Jets.
In a conversation with Fox's Jay Glazer, former Jets GM Joe Douglas said the Jets were "dead set" on drafting Gibbs with the No. 15 overall pick in 2023 and didn't expect any team before them in the draft order to pick him up.
But the Lions, who traded down from the No. 6 pick in the draft, drafted Gibbs with the No. 12 pick that year, surprising many draft analysts.
The pick has turned out really well for the Lions. Gibbs has reached the Pro Bowl in both of his NFL seasons and rushed for 16 touchdowns in 2024, tying Baltimore's Derrick Henry and Buffalo's James Cook for the league lead.
Meanwhile, the Jets took defensive end Will McDonald with their 15th overall pick, which has also worked well for New York. McDonald led the team with 10½ sacks in 2024 over 15 starts.
Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards in 17 games in 2024, the ninth-highest total in franchise history. The only Lions who have rushed for more yards in a season are Billy Sims (1,437 yards in 1981) and Barry Sanders, who owns the top-seven rushing seasons in franchise history.
Gibbs was the first running back the Lions drafted in the first round since the team selected Jahvid Best in 2010.
And while you can debate in circles about running back value in the draft, can you imagine Gibbs not rocking Honolulu Blue?
