For the second straight year, the Lions are being pegged as a trendy candidate for improvement. NFL schedule-makers went so far as to give Detroit the first game of the year, a prime-time Thursday night battle with the Chiefs on Sept. 7.
However, a cloud of doubt has surrounded the Lions’ newest draft class. Many observers thought Detroit reached to grab Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the draft's 12th pick, while others took issue with the Lions selecting Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell at No. 18.
Gibbs, for his part, did not mince words in refuting criticism of his selection Saturday afternoon.