After the initial Lions rookie minicamp, undrafted free agent Mohamed Ibrahim sure feels like he belongs in the Detroit backfield. It’s part of the reason why the Lions gave the running back from Minnesota a hefty signing bonus to lure him as a UDFA.
Ibrahim’s appeal is easy to see on his Golden Gopher game film. He’s short at 5-foot-8 but not small; at 203 pounds, he’s thick and powerful. Ibrahim uses the lower-body muscle and relentless leg drive to reliably grind yardage after contact. It’s his best attribute as a runner.
Ibrahim averaged an outstanding 3.56 yards after contact in 2022, which helped net him over 1,100 yards after contact. He’s very adept at running through contact and using excellent balance to keep moving forward. Ibrahim has a good understanding of how to set up his blocks and quickly react to what is blocked for him. He’s also a great blocker in his own right, effectively stonewalling defenders in pass protection.
His on-field game screamed, “draft me,” but there are some viable drawbacks. Ibrahim battled several leg injuries, including a torn Achilles in 2021 and an ankle issue in his freshman season in 2018. He will turn 25 the day after Detroit’s Week 1 matchup with the Chiefs, too.
Minnesota rarely used him in the passing game beyond pass protection; Ibrahim had 22 career catches in five seasons but had three documented drops. Between his lack of height and very short (28-inch) arms, he’s just not a big target. His open-field speed isn’t explosive, nor is his acceleration through the hole. Ibrahim will get caught from behind, but it’s his ability to get clear to the second level and open field that makes him appealing.
Detroit is a great fit for Ibrahim. He’s a runner who needs effective blocking to get him going. Ibrahim’s aggressive style of going straight north/south and willingness to attack would-be tacklers fits well in the Lions offense. Ibrahim figures to challenge stylistically similar vet Craig Reynolds for the No. 3 RB spot behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. His ability to contribute on special teams and in the passing game will determine if Ibrahim sticks long-term.
