Inside the Den 2023 Episode 3: Behind the Scenes of the Lions’ 2023 NFL Draft

[Music] lions at 12. is this pick real lions making a real Splash belly flop boy last night it was confusing to say the least I don't know what the hell they were doing the first round like what on Earth are you doing the Lions reached so that's bad at positions of low value that's bad I don't like this pick in terms of value we do not take running backs in the first round basically the least valuable spots yeah that was way too high for me you overpay it tells me that Brad Holmes got burned and so I just Dash my dress [Music] I just kind of look at it as they're all football players if they can help you they can help you and there's some positions that you got to have speed explosiveness so that's not overlooked if you think that player is that good then if he's out there producing for you then I don't think anybody's gonna really bad an eye about it it felt really really confident we had done a lot of work already and I did feel like it was a little bit more clarity a little bit more smoke started to clear in terms of what might happen we had some guys that we really really liked that we felt we would love to come away with going into it it was really no different than any other year it was about you know how do we upgrade this roster how do we create more competition that was really the mindset certainly excited you know I know Brad had some ammo and he's got a pretty good track record of striking on that welcome to the 2000 2023 National Football League draft in Kansas City expect a little bit of chaos right maybe we have a lot of a lot of draft trades and things of that nature and a lot of teams have people ranked differently in different positions on their board you may actually get a chance at your number one guy that you didn't expect to get based on how these guys come off the board this was a different draft it was definitely less predictable you just kind of had the strategy of within the constraints of the hard work and the conviction that we already put into it let's let's go in there let's get who we want and get the hell out of there okay welcome to Kansas City and the 2023 NFL draft all right Kansas City it's time to get the show started the 2023 NFL draft is now officially open the Carolina Panthers are on the clock we might lose a you know late round pick I will be disciplined okay simplistically you can just have your rankings of players you know and who's your top player in the draft and it's two three four five and well we had picked six and eighteen so you know you want to definitely have 18 guys that you have in that ranking but everybody just bucket is different you know and that's what makes it great is that you just don't know like yeah we had 14 players in that first round bucket uh Which is less than the past two years and another team might have 20 another team might have 10 you just you just don't know and that's what makes it great yeah like out of those players that we had there picking Gibbs that was easy so yeah we'd have been comfortable at six and did it but when you get into having an opportunity to maximize that six overall pick we couldn't be any more thrilled with how that came out Arizona yes it is 12 34. and 168. 6 and 81. all right instructions okay what what's good all right cool you know there's been a few of these over the last three years that have come up you've got a guy you've identified and then you're just man you've got to hold on and hope that that uh you know your guy doesn't go the whole time I had a pretty good sense that he was not going to last till 18. and really I just thought that the play was too talented to last to 18. so even when we made the trade back to 12. I'm still kind of like someone gonna jump us I mean you just don't know so yeah like you're still sweating bullets a little bit it's pretty exciting really you know because I think that's that's part of the that's part of the element that makes it so fun is you're you're hoping he's still going to be there and Swarovski goes off the board and he's there he is man with the 11th pick the Tennessee Titans select Peter scaronsky [Applause] [Music] we got to 12. he wasn't the 12th ranking guy he won 11. he went 10. what nine he wasn't eight you know just to be able to get that player it's just the best feeling that you could you could ever have [Music] yes [Music] yes I think it's two years in a row now that I've had one of those outbursts I actually told myself I was going to be better but that's why we get the players who we love because it's pure authentic it was awesome you know obviously I came up behind him because I I was pretty fired up and I knew he was you know he gave me a glancing blow uh you know there's been a lot of debata where that actually landed all right it was not low all right I think it was more rubbish thigh to ribbish area uh but but we were good I was too excited to worry about it me and Dan we were aligned with our conviction of of Jamir and uh I didn't even know who grabbed me I didn't know anything I just know that I kind of just bursted out emotion was just kind of just thrilled with who we landed and that's how you know it's purely genuine and authentic with a 12 pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Detroit Lions select Jamir Gibbs running back Alabama [Applause] foreign [Applause] football to be in the NFL so when I got that call it was pretty surreal I was excited uh there was a lot of motion hey Engineers Brad Holmes Jimmy Detroit Lions how you doing man did you ready to be alive all right man hey we're fired up over here man you're gonna be a daytime weapon for us man we're super excited with Jack's man and you can do a lot of big things for us going forward man hey congratulations what's up yeah we're excited to have you man you're gonna fit perfect out here with us yeah all right good Brett yeah yeah yeah this is so exciting I'm just great usually I've heard our room go nuts when we were still there at 12. so everyone's really fired up and we know you're gonna do great things with us I hope you're as excited as we are okay awesome well we'll see you really soon okay bye-bye I met the world with me you know um I'm a close family my close friends you know they've been I hate they've been with me my whole life and seen me grow and you know never you know I've never left my side never switched up so I'm grateful for them [Music] [Music] kids are 12 is easy easy easy murder mode one of the top battle rappers he ends his versus easy like gives a 12 is easy yeah that's awesome Jamir he's a guy that's probably one of the most explosive players in my career that I've ever evaluated and scouted he's a guy that could be using a variety of different roles very explosive very sudden a lot of change of Direction you know he is a big play waiting to happen gets his foot in the ground and goodbye his ability to make Cuts take it to the distance his speed is definitely a factor he's just not a running back but he can catch it out of the backfield that's one thing that really gets you excited this kid is like a receiver in regards to his hands and his ability to run routes there was a play and he runs a slant Texas route and his ability to break off the linebacker and then catch the ball and then he just went and you saw the speed you saw the athleticism all in one play and you're like okay this kid's got it this kid has something special the first time I've ever seen him really in practice at Georgia Tech he made an exceptional catch on the sideline to where you know it's it's almost like freaky human type things the old adage and scouting like if you can play we'll find you at Georgia Tech he was Dynamic at Alabama he even showed it more and if you can prove that both places in the ACC and the SEC you know you're a guy and it's Jamir Gibbs all the way to the end zone the Arkansas game this past year you know he kind of just took the game over and you saw a guy that just had big play after big play he might be gone again Jamir again touchdown he can run inside outside he's just breaking angles he is speed and make you miss and outrun you and make you look silly his top end speed I think it's probably the best in the draft I mean it's off the charts good let Alabama in rushing receiving and kick return yards the man is absolutely electric it's all him for the first time when I went to uh the Texas Alabama game he was just so explosive he was so Dynamic and he kind of stuck with me since then but no when you come across a special player like that you're just convicted you just you just get him he's gonna come out there and give you his 100 effort never complains always just puts his heads down and work that's somebody who you want in a player he's going to be a quiet humble person and he's going to be appreciative and he doesn't care about stats he's a team guy he's a fantastic young man that we're bringing to Detroit and we just really really liked him from a character standpoint it stood out we had changes to sit down and talk at the combine here's the hot seat we say ODB because it means it's our damn ball you're going to be carrying this ball in some tight spaces coach me on how you carry the football okay is there anything else you can do all right oh what did you do with that hand put it across the wrist you're the first guy that came in here and I'm proud of you right that clasp right there is important is because when you do look at chain we don't want a 200 000 chain with a middle of the mall class we don't want a 25 class because somebody will snatch it right so now that is what that is great job I love that okay just made my day he loves football that's all that's what he is he's a football player and he just puts his head down and goes to work whether it's in the weight room on the field or in the classroom you see how far that left foot is outside of your frame where do we want that foot um so that's what we want right we're gonna prevent injuries and we're also going to be more efficient on the next move let's watch that next move you're just better than this guy I love it the great player can't lie to you he understands Blitz protections routes run Concepts I mean the kid he gives you everything you want in a running bag all right so now I'm coming down the hole quarterback's inside all right we're gonna have contact point of conflict is right here as I'm coming to you what'd you do with that foot why'd you do that footwork what is that called correct folks that's your poster okay now as we come now what's next okay where's your where's your uh hairline where's your hairline all right now as we hit each other are you gonna be facing or face out uh facing and then when I get ready to counter what are you going to do with your face bring it out okay all right I was really really impressed with this overall football iq's understanding of protections and in my opinion is the best space player uh in this draft we like Gibbs a lot and so we got value for the trade back but also it's still acquiring at 12. it was it was pretty exciting [Music] saving went a different direction at six say we picked another player another position or whatever the case is at six overall with that 18 pick you know I was looking to trade up into that same range of where we got Gibbs [Music] after we selected them at 12 my lack of confidence uh with him being at 18 got confirmed through all the texts that I got that that wasn't happening anyways I always get the answers to the tests after the pick is made foreign you're at pick 18 and we only had 14 guys and that let's call it first round bucket and he was sticking out by a pretty substantial margin so jacket 18 was easy here he really is oh yes being able to land Jack he was another one that we just stuck with our conviction and what we believed and we just looked at it and that was easy for us thank you absolutely I guess not I just stayed at home just with my close family so just my grandparents my parents and my siblings it was small but like that's just like kind of how I wanted it the Lions already chose Jamir Gibbs the first time around what about here yeah it's good that's great it's great awesome again he wasn't the 18th ranked player he won 17. he won 16. he won 15. so Jack at 18 oh that was easy with the 18th pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Detroit Lions select Jack Campbell linebacker Iowa every young football player like always dreams to make it to this level and dreams to get that call whether it's pick number one or the last big in the draft hey Jack I'm good it's Brad Holmes jamming Detroit Lions how you doing you ready to be a Detroit Lion man I can't remember the exact dialogue but he he said something of the nature of you know I'm going to give you everything I've got absolutely I know you are I know I know exactly what you're about I know you are all right man well congratulations man we're gonna turn to picking all right let me get you on the phone with our head coach Dan Campbell all right all right yeah hearing those kids on the other end you know just the emotion that they're having and their families erupting it it does it just it gives me chills a little bit hey man I love your last name [Laughter] we were so fired up to have you a party hey man listen you earned it you earned it and we're fired up to have you you're going to be a huge part of what we do and this is going to be great man and we're about to turn the corner here and uh and you're gonna be a big part of it all right all right hey Jack congratulations I think we can deal with two candles it just is it's a testament to doing little things consistently over time coming from the state of Iowa I knew like if I wanted to get to where I was going to get to I'd have to do a bunch of little things correctly congratulations we can't wait to get you here we know you're going to be a huge piece of our defense can't wait absolutely absolutely okay take care we'll see you really soon okay bye-bye [Applause] you know the tape speaks for itself I mean he was a very productive player and that's where it always begins is on the football film I've been studying Jack for like three years and you're getting a complete three down linebacker biggest thing that jumps out is Jack size you know six four and a half and you know 250 pounds you don't find many inside linebackers in college football that big foreign you're talking about a special football player a unique football player you don't find guys with uh with that type of size instincts tackling ability coverage ability you're getting extremely tough competitive guy plays sideline to sideline he'll come downhill and hit you you're getting very instinctive uh linebacker reads and reacts extremely quickly and he also has good range you can chase guys down and has a good closing burst and that's the all everything Jack Campbell on the set linebackers you got to be amphibious and do a lot of different things when I think of amphibious I think of a frog you can go in the water and you can go in the land as linebacker you got to play The Run you got to take on box you got to be able to use your hands you got to be violent back there coming from the University of Iowa coming from a program led by Kirk ferns that's just going to help me translate my game to the next level one of the finest players I've ever worked with my entire career he's just a really exceptional human being we had five jack Campbells we all five would be starting two would have been our defensive ends and then the other three would have been all three linebackers protection breaks down Levis has crunched it was it was Campbell who put on the pressure there's some upside tomb as a pass rusher and Blitzer gets off blocks really well really good Zone covers player he's very aware of passing Lanes that's Jack Campbell running it back touchdown Hawkeye one of my favorite plays it was a play versus Ohio State and he was kind of lined up more towards on the edge he kind of buzzed dropped back in the flat and it was just a combination of the quickness the suddenness the length the ground that he covered and he basically took away a whole route combination and then came down and finished on the football and it was those kind of plays I was like okay this guy's different he's been an exceptional football player exceptional team member a great leader and he's one of those guys off the field that just represents you know the program in every way it's one thing to get a really good football player it's another thing to get a guy who really adds value in so many other areas from like a character standpoint epitomizes what you want in a Detroit Lion he is a Detroit guy like he is a Dan Campbell guy he's a culture fit immediately you're just going to get someone who's uh humble has integrity and just he's going to show up every single day what we're about is exactly what he's about so he's just an ideal fit for what we're trying to do he's voted Captain by teammates in the past two years um you know he's just a football junkie he's always in the building he's always training really good lead by example guy he had a ton and as far as intangibles his passion for the game the way it drives him you see it he speaks it he lives it I think that's what makes him special and what kind of pushed him up I know in my mind above some of the other guys I think everybody in Detroit's Really Gonna like not only uh watching Jack play and perform but also just the interactions you'll have with him and what he'll bring to the community there he did an interview at the combine really just set the bar in terms of from an intelligence standpoint [Music] I'm gonna get right into football man yes sir I asked you could you play Wheel is that a thing love it and what about on ball Jack are you primarily off ball back uh I've never played all ball but I would definitely the also alone like just give it a shot the interview was man it was impressive there was an energy about him there was an awareness there was an instinctiveness by the man you put the nose down that you know you you don't need those you got this football smarts wise I think guys amazing uh you know he's a guy he can make the calls for you on defense uh he's like another coach in the field there it's one thing to sit there and teach him something watch it and then you throw them curveballs you know something you haven't talked about you just want to see how they react to it it also has the film study at the linebacker position everything you do is going to be mental nothing's more important than me than being able to perform at the highest level and put my teammates in the best positions how possible to go make plays if I make a mistake I kind of like being able to be the first one to raise my hand and just get uh like I'm like a bunch of chewing tobacco on my eye I thought it was pretty funny in our Scout meetings when we were meeting in April and they keep saying he's he's a Dan Campbell guy and you know Jack was one of those guys been playing football since like sixth grade yeah I love it where are you originally from from Cedar Falls I grew up in my whole entire life yeah right all right now I want to be uni Panther my dad played a left guard there from 85 to 89. I mean that's the guy who kind of got me to the football guy you got a bright future no I appreciate it absolutely very impressed thank you sir very good job man very much like I'll say when he left out the room me Dan AG looking at each other and was like damn that's gonna be hard to top right there and because it was just exceptional it's great this is great we pick players we don't pick positions that's what we've always done and we'll just always stick to that when we pick penne Sewell we pick penne Sewell not because he played offensive tackle no we picked Peninsula because he was a special football player when we picked eight in the Hutchinson we picked Aiden not because he played defensive man because he was a special football player and I don't think Jamir plays running back he's just a weapon but it was the same case with Jack at 18. you know you just got to do the best you can in terms of all the hard work and conviction of everybody in the building and you know you just kind of just pray and see if the draft Gods you know are going to bless you and we were excited that they did that's good nice job everyone yeah nice job man that was excellent excellent if I'm in private that's cool that's what's up [Music] what's happening how you doing hello I'm just Calvin's buddy we excited to have you man need your skills man because that's what his choice I met you I know but choices though used to Rave about you bro you used to Rave about you you tell me uh y'all stories I hope you didn't what you thinking I feel good though everybody decided you know but you know we don't we don't feel the pressure we apply it in fact do preparation let me ask you this I noticed a lot of the kids had had this kind of thing is it something to it or you say yeah my name that's like a thing these days you would have had one too you think so okay all right all right we're gonna have to get Buried one huh right right right right maybe it's not too late [Music] hey hey how you doing man congratulations man congratulations brother welcome you to the city man I'm excited we're excited too bro my best foot forward yeah man what you thinking about but no you got us a great support system than just the coaching staff bro like almost the whole staff is riddled with position with player coaches man so and then Dan obviously he's a I play with Dan so I know what Dan is Og man that's that's a dude so I'm happy for you that you get to come to Detroit in a good time man when it's trending up the city everything so work your tail off early it makes things easier you know early in the down work your ass off it makes things easier later in the play it's the same thing in life you're still young with your ass off so you set yourself up for later so living in it now or don't take it for granted yes sir thank you appreciate it happy for you man yeah thank you all the hooplies over let's go see ball get ball it's not that hard so when did you leave Georgia Tech uh just Alabama a year okay it should be excited you're dreaming to become true but you're going to love everybody man and everybody's all it's a different field and I think other teams yes yeah I don't know if you like catching any NBA action you know but I I thought I saw you doing a dribbling motion yeah yeah you know okay yeah you play basketball oh you did okay yeah yeah I played basketball way more than I played the football oh really okay because I played it every day used to walk like miles to go to the park you didn't have a bike man you guys didn't own a bicycle sometimes we did the best thing you have from from my evaluation that I gave is you know Vision right and there's no wasted movements none when you have zero wasted movements you play faster than anybody you keep that edge man yes sir keep your vision the thing that I'm forever mad about is my I graduated high school in 86 I believe it was 87 that's the year when Kansas got the three-point line in high school so I didn't have a three-point line I didn't have a three-point line coaches hate it me shooting out far like that you know so I would often a lot of times I'll get yanked you know just from shooting you know shooting before [Music] Allen Park he's going to become very familiar with this place it's Jackson hey man I'm proud of you I'm so excited for you brother man I'm so excited for our team all right now you get to go meet everybody else [Applause] [Music] there he is what's so cool production and the player that you are we will push every boundary you have because you got it you got it man yeah I got you I mean you were telling me last night that you're going to give us your own that one even a question because you're here because everything you're about that's what we're about everything you're about that's what we're about that's why you're here yes yeah dog we're fired up man this is gonna be awesome first and foremost I just want to thank the Ford family Mr Holmes and Coach Campbell for giving me this opportunity to be in Detroit Lion I've been here for the day and I can already tell it's truly unique and it's something that I feel like is uh the fans are definitely going to be excited about you'll fit just fine though for sure and you're going to push everybody around you and your job is to come in and earn a starting spot exactly I love that about you guys too like it doesn't matter about anything once you step foot on the field everyone's the same and you gotta go earn that that's what I love how does it feel s good it was really good to get over with being somewhere where I wanted to be yeah I saw the reaction you know it felt good knowing that the organization had that much trust in me to uh pick me at number 12 where you know uh running backs don't usually get picked so it meant a lot to me you're a little surprised last night yeah you all compliment Each Other Well fired up to him you know I'm so excited you well thank you congrats congrats man yeah [Music] so have you started getting the jokes yet that he's your uncle yeah oh yeah what's up buddy get out of here met you guys this afternoon really cool good guys yeah excited to be here yes perfect fit for us yeah yeah all families are so complimentary um yeah let's just say you haven't been here long enough the first round ended um you know there's still some some good players that we'd be excited about uh I think we're in a really good spot awesome games you have will lifts you have hen and hooker uh you have Brian Branch who's the safety from Alabama a bunch of good tight ends there are several good players left and it's going to be an exciting day [Music] it is good to kind of let the dust settle you know you can kind of re-stack it reshuffle it you know I did get some calls about you know the back half of the first round foreign [Music] happens yup yup yup yup just kind of looking at the totality of you know who was left um we felt pretty confident of just staying right there at 34. yeah there's gonna be a couple pretty good guys we're pretty zeroed in on on Sam and um and being able to land him you know they're still you know picks in front of us and you don't you don't really know how that's going to go you know you have your eggs but you don't have a basket to put them in yet so like I have these opportunities but I just don't know where I'm going to go yet I thought one teams were intrigued to see what was going to happen there was so much mystery they're legit excited about tonight because this is the guts of this draft this is the value of this draft when you know Sam was available um obviously he was our top guy at that position and we were able to land him yeah the Arizona Cardinals have finalized a trade with the Tennessee Titans to come up to number 33 which of course begs the question who are the Titans coming up together my buddy Dallas Clark has been a great mentor for me and you know played in the league for a long time and he made a joke to me like until you see your name go across that screen like don't believe it quite yet and you're looking down at your phone it's ringing you're like this is the moment holy crap Sam Sprite homes Jim the Detroit Lions how you doing man I'm doing great now you ready to be alive absolutely you got your teammate man so I don't even think Sam knew that we were I was calling to draft him and I hadn't even told him like yeah I know but we're we're calling to Drought you two he called me I was like oh my gosh like you got Jack like it just didn't really set in for me yet now you're coming man hey man we're fired up man you're gonna be a big part of this offense man all right and then Coach Campbell hops on the phone and Michela hamps you're gonna bring another element to us you know you're going to be able to do a number of jobs you're somebody that uh man we we just I'm telling you we see a major fit so we're fired up buddy hey Sam congratulations that's awesome we're so excited oh my gosh [Music] so congratulations I hear lots of Cheers like I got the phone call I went out and told the rest of the party like hey everybody I'm about to be a Detroit Lions everybody went crazy foreign like my name pops up on the screen that's when I kind of felt surreal with the 34th pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Detroit Lions select Sam laporta tight end Iowa yeah it was just a really great celebration of you know family and friends the most important people in my life right there in that room right after that I kind of broke down like my dad and I because it's just like a full circle moment you know I started playing football and I was 10 years old and like here I am 12 years later and just crazy turned six overall to Gibbs and laporta I mean we couldn't be even more we couldn't be any more thrilled it's crap Sam is one of the better if not the best receiving tight end I saw all fall he runs really good routes it runs really well really good catching skills good adjust to the ball you know hopefully an explosive player big plays gritty in the Run game and lots of other things that the coaches asked me to do what really stands out is when he detaches from the core and the work that he can do on the perimeter and he can beat a DB and he can catch contested and he can win a slant you're getting complete tight ends a guy who can get downfield and make some big plays for you Sam's very very versatile as a player you line them up all over the place I think it's gonna be a really good chess piece for coaches to use on offense he's got really impressive balls because he's just a really good athlete he can bend he can change his directions and again I just like the way he plays football as a blocker he's very willing tough competitive aggressive he's not afraid to stick his nose in there he still has a gritty finishing style especially with the ball in his hands he's got run after the catch and this was a good tight end class it it really was this year but he just really stood out to me among the others so we were happy to get him just an all-around complete football player he does his job every play and he does high-level NFL routes I see NFL run blocking and then of course the physical tools that go along with it to where you go this damn guy's good and he's going to be around for a long time in the NFL that's right congratulations Sam was also voted a team captain this past year another really hard worker always in the building loved by teammates really took over that tight ends room this year as far as a leader yeah as a person just somebody that appreciates every day you know I I get to live a lot of those like little kids dreams but then only a few people actually turn out and get this opportunity so I just try to appreciate that and appreciate every moment that I have Yeah Yeah from the football smart perspective another really smart kid there's nothing that Sam you know can't do from a football smart perspective the coaches there say that he could teach the offense to the other tight ends at the combine they kind of taught me a play real quick and they're going to stress my football IQ and see what I can do mentally and you know put it out there on the field okay you have good hands I think I have great hands yeah okay 10 being the best you write them a ten that's tough you'd like to think so but I feel like I'm I can be better at especially like highballing um I think I can do better but I think I'm definitely a security blanket for the quarterback I'd say probably an eight you catch up all over your head with a safety coming at your ribs I'd like to think so yeah I'll put that on film before yeah I thought it went pretty well um it's kind of funny because now I'm starting to learn the system it's just funny to like think back to the play they taught me then and they demand a lot for me now and I could tell that in that meeting if you like Rome blocking I enjoy round blocking yeah physically dominating somebody you feel like you're a complete title you can do a little bit I do yeah I think I'm extremely versatile I think I'm tough enough to stick my nose but also finesse full enough to get open and create separation yep that was already go look at my clock I don't know I just keep seeing the tip sweating in the ringer why should coach draft you I'm a locker room guy I think I mesh well with really any locker room not to mention that I'm a damn good football player too relaxed you ain't gonna have no problems with me um we were thrilled to get him now we still got 48 and 55s draft weekend was an unbelievable experience the fact that I was able to bring my family there it was huge for me and unless I was able to be there however I was hot that I didn't get my name called there's a number of guys didn't come off the board last night that we expected on the corners Brian Brandt from Alabama was a great nickel didn't come off the board sitting there at 48 and again we we still got our crop of guys we're we're ready but then I'm just starting to see this Brian branch and I'm like wait he's still there oh I got you and if he's still sitting yeah yeah yes we got this guy in one of those those 14 players that we have in that first round bucket and let's just make sure we don't lose him if I were picking out the guy I would want is Brian Branch you're looking at the top corners available it's Branch from Alabama can also play some safety if you wanted to in a pinch you can kick out play corners and he can return some kicks for you as well you acquire players early it's because you believe they can get it sooner than later there's there's something about their game you feel like these guys can play football when he was there that's when I just started just making calls get on the phone and just saying you know who I felt like we needed to get in front of again I guess you have no idea but you just got to just go with your gut it requires soon yeah okay yeah you know he was 152. we'll see what happens I might do that yeah big thing you and his friends [Music] what's up yeah it's better yeah what do I do it for 159. all right okay 48.59 yes okay all right Lions just hopped up with the Packers who get a fifth round selection so the Lions could do what I guess they're about to do being able to get that deal done with goody and Green Bay and meet me in good I've known as I've known him for a long time and uh you know he was great to work with to get the deal done but to be able to land branch we were we were ecstatic yes day two I was still hot but it was important to me to stay because it's never going to happen again I'm never gonna get the opportunity to walk across the stage again but I was just waiting and waiting and I got a phone call Brad called me and my heart dropped like I finally knew where I was going and for it to be Detroit it's huge subscribe homes [Music] Branch what's up man congratulations everything we're about ages secondary everything now okay Grange congratulations I'm great well we're really excited you're holding our breath and then we couldn't wait anymore so happy you can hear all the noise behind me I don't know if you can hear that everyone's excited with the 45th pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Detroit Lions select Brian Branch defensive back Alabama [Applause] [Music] [Applause] shoulders I'm not allowed still hot but it's the fact that I got my name card it's only like in the top one percent who can be able to do this and walk across the stage shaking the commissioner's hand you know that's something that you dream of as a little kid and my mom and then wanted me to walk across the stage as well just sharing that moment with them is you know first one to do it in my family and that was huge for me to have stayed in Kansas City and come back out the next night you know kind of speaks to who he is as a person from a character's standpoint from a tangible standpoint from an intelligence standpoint these players fit us with Brian almost as much as the versatility offensively as we have with Jamir you could probably say the same about Brian on the back end of our defense described it as a chess piece this kid can do a lot of things you play nickel you play safety he is someone that can play in the slot he can play Down In The Box he can play over the top so he has the ability to line up in a lot of different places if you just had football player and caps in just black and white that's what he is [Applause] it's intercepted Branch steps in front and gets the pick he's very instinctive he's very physical the guy can bend change directions he's got good size and he just plays the game like how we played the most impressive thing on watching Brian is his toughness and he's the best tackling defensive player I watched all year he plays fast he's intelligent and he makes plays he shows he can do it all he can cover he plays the run and he's a sneaky good Blitzer too this kid will come up and hit you [Applause] [Music] big hit in the backfield by branch and down goes Vaughn his ability to drive in the ball I mean it's as good as any Corner in the draft but his feet in and out of transition are absolutely phenomenal out of back pedal or any type of break I mean it is the most efficient footwork you have ever seen I love Brian Branch he is a Swiss army knife style Defender he also played as a true freshman for Nick Saban in the secondary which is hard to do he's very smart highly intelligent hard worker he can do a lot of things and that's I think the big thing with this kid is you can use them and he's going to help you out wherever he plays the football player on tape that alone was enough but I went to that Alabama pro day and you know obviously you know watching Jameer and had a great workout but the way branch moved the hips the quickness the change of Direction his burst is finished I mean the ball skills that's that that kind of put the icing on top of the cake there I was stoked to get them in the second round he has first round traits he's just a darn good football player I think we're getting a player that is going to show up every day he's going to do their job they're going to be humble they're going to be competitive and he's the person that you can trust he's a person that's always going to have your back he's a person that's going to fit into your culture really what sound about Brian is just that look in him in his eye and you can just feel them in you can just feel that he wants to be great and that put her over the top for me all right bro we can hop right into the football here man I want you to know the nickel and the seat okay just like he did on tape that was no problem right you know he's a player when he came into Alabama the position that he plays in their defense usually the guy that can handle the most from a responsibility standpoint and so with Brian you're getting a player that understands how the entire system on the back end Works how each piece fits together he's a guy that has a high football IQ if since the back is there we traded like a uh like an unconventional Bunch yeah and we see how the baby well stood out to me just the way like the coaches and everybody like how they interact with each other I love to hear you like playing Nicholas wherever I need me at let me pick one you got it why uh more I'm close to the Box uh I feel like I'm a good run fit I like to play cover on the spot and I'm a great Collision bye good job I didn't think that he was going to be there but you know we were we were jacked that he was one yeah that's that's amazing that's so cool so to get Branch at 45 we're still at 55 and so that's when hinden starts to kind of creep in your mind with hinden when he didn't go off right right at the top of two I started kind of get a sense of I think I know where this thing is going it's a little bit of a dice roll but can we move back gain some more Capital to give us some more flexibility but still having hooker in mind [Music] [Music] so the draft weekend for me was a lot of fun you know being able to just sit there and laugh my family and friends a lot of anticipation a lot of guessing a lot of chatter of hey where would he go where will you go not going where I wanted to go you know as far as number system but just continue to be positive and whatever path I do go down you know the lions are definitely a spot I love to be no you know [Music] all right okay okay you know we did it once and then we did it twice and now it's like okay all right you got any interest in coming up in George foreign for one okay okay 67. 99 I could see if you were somebody from the outside and you walk in it could probably seem chaotic there is so much going on right now like I don't even know where to begin so if you wanted to come down you do it for 68. yeah 68 139 is 63 and 183. yeah when you're in there and then you're going through that moment and to really understand how composed everybody really is and Disney and sauce now and Dorsey I mean I mean these guys are on it [Music] okay or you know somewhere between 95. yeah yeah are you good okay I'm calling them right now all right we're trading with uh Denver so we got to 68 and we're kind of rolling today so let's just go ahead and just make the pick so we got to be able to land hinden it was just awesome [Music] wow hello what's going on how you doing man I'm doing great well everyone's doing here yes sir how you doing I'm glad I called it Greensboro phone number it's only right you ready to be alignment yes sir I'm ready that's a real moment um and very special as well I remember him making a joke about man it's against color my Greensboro number that was something that kind of brought a smile to my face so obviously you know I went to North Carolina a t and obviously his dad you know being a Hall of Fame quarterback at A T when I dialed that 336 numbers kind of just gave me some Nostalgia all right man congratulations [Music] um and then you just grow develop and let's see where this thing goes thank you so much all right that's okay [Music] all right take care bye-bye [Applause] what's up what's up how y'all doing how y'all doing damn so this is what it feels like to be up here huh this is nice the 68th pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Detroit Lions select [Music] hand in hooker quarterback Tennessee [Music] [Applause] he's just another guy that throughout the process he was kind of checking all the boxes hennen is a guy that has a strong arm he's got a high football IQ he is a good athlete but also just his journey you know was not the easiest and hadn't started his career out at Virginia Tech this is hinden hooker just one of two scene in his career I remember I saw hinden's first start at Virginia Tech they were playing Miami and Virginia Tech man had an injury and hinden you know comes in and starts and he's scrambling running around I'm like whoa all right this guy can play one guy to beat and did it touchdown Okies he transferred to Tennessee and he was in a quarterback competition eventually won the job and he didn't look back from there as a player we're getting a guy that has upside he has the ability to read defense he has the ability to make a lot of the hard throws look easy and then hooker pulls it throws a touchdown Tennessee perfect throw by the senior quarterback for Tennessee the person they can play both inside and outside the pocket and has Mobility to keep plays alive and and make some things happen when when even when it's all scheduled [Music] you're gonna rub the option hooker keeps it himself what a move away he will how about that the physical traits with uh hinden you know they kind of jump off the screen at you because you see the arm strength and you see the athlete immediately I love the Poise he plays with from the pocket he stands tall he's confident he gets from one to two to three with quickness with efficiency with his footwork and dude's got a cannon that size that athleticism the decision making the ability to throw the ball I think is really really good and I think it's definite definite first round worthy this kid embodies what you want in a quarterback the more you wash the more you liked his leadership his intelligence Persona on the field and you see the traits what you look for in a quarterback uh on the field you know someone who's going to lead someone who's extremely accurate I can throw a nice deep ball in his who is explosive well he's just a good football player he has all the physical traits with you know size athletic ability throwing and all stuff but um he's got the intangible qualities for the position he had the respect of everybody there he was a leader on offense for them all the guys looked up to him and when he was on the field they always thought hey we can win this game from a cultural perspective you know a very team first guy someone who's going to put the team before himself and I want to come out and you know impact lives in a positive manner whether that be you know on the field in the locker room you know out of this building he's a guy that's a transformational leader and a lot of people directly contribute to success at Tennessee he's had to the leadership and the person that Hendon is he's a good person he's smart brought him in and you know seeing it firsthand was easy to put over the top you excited about this week very excited yeah very excited once in a lifetime opportunities I had a great time talking to coach brew and talking to Coach Johnson and Coach Campbell as well really just took away you know how down the Earth and personable everyone was a damn good throw in it yes sir third down money down put a little juice on that huh good ball location what do you feel like you need to work off the most one thing um that I really kind of uh you know harped on to myself and coaches as well even that's my mom sometimes but you know just taking care of my body in the right game you know I don't really see any weaknesses in my game other than you know to try to be Superman extending the place you know as much as I can try to get the most out of every play being able to sit down and go through plays go through how the Lions you know run their offense and how coach Brew teaches the quarterbacks it's a beautiful thing and that's people that I want to be around did everything come from the sideline um play Play call Wise until I check it I had a lot of freedom at the line okay how much did that happen a lot a lot a lot half the time uh majority of the time majority of the time you were doing something at the line based on what you saw it was for anything that you felt like was too much preparing for the phone no sir I I believe you know over preparing so I could be ready for him in every uh situation he's a guy that studies all the time he's a guy that watches video every day he's a guy that takes a lot of the copious notes he's a person that's going to ask the questions that he needs to ask and that even him going to the Senior Bowl and showing up even though he's dealing with an injury [Music] obviously he has to go through getting healthy with the knee but I think he comes in the perfect situation where he can sit back and learn from Jared and I think that's going to be great for him he's got to get healthy he's got to develop we like his developmental traits and we're excited about his upside that's why we went ahead and pulled the trigger on him [Laughter] so then we pick it in at 68 and I knew like me and Dan just had this affinity for Broadway I'm kind of looking at I'm trying to see like what's left on the board I think I made the comment to Dan I was just like man I'm gonna try my ass off to get back in here and get this dude so I do that'd be great we were at 122 in the fourth there and I'm like I don't know who would actually do it but I think we had three fives at the time so I probably started calling that like pick 70. [Music] are you are you staying we got 122 139. foreign 122. [Music] 39 168. I'm fine with the weather now I'm 68. or for the Arizona for the United States when we got to 96 at Arizona we were able to get that deal done to sacrifice with the fifth round picks I I thought it was a no-brainer Arizona [Music] uh you still good for the uh the 122 139 68. yeah as long if he's there at 96 then we're good yep yep okay all good you said well yeah [Music] for me Broderick was a little bit late in the process and when I watched him and his stature his explosiveness his hustle it just shows up what brought it was getting a big physical nose tackle going out to Western Kentucky he stand out right away because he is a big man a lot of good physical traits it's going to be a big run stopper with a good high motor straight dog it's just whooping the man in front of me as much as I can you know that's all I promised myself on he's got a lot of upside in his body and he's powerful he plays really hard very long arms really good use of his length and he's a powerful guy you know he had a game versus Auburn that I liked show some versatility he was giving him some problems I thought they start having to pin and pull him a little bit I was impressed to see a 340 pound guy hustling to the ball you see the motor it's hard to find guys that big play with the competitiveness and urgency that he plays with we're getting one of our type guys High intangibles real humble guy but when you talk to him great personality I think he's gonna fit in well with a group of guys that we got in that d-line room Roderick had a really good Pro Day his workout was good we brought him for a visit and he just kind of lifted up just with his personality and coach Sean Scott's gonna do some really good things with him just talking to him he kind of kind of like got me going like tough they greedy they want to get out the people on defense and I think they're going to get me where I need to be you know God gave you long arms he gave you that size you know you got it in your hips and your guy's willing to work I think it's it's hard for that guy not to Blossom and be potentially like he could really be something special I believe that but that's why I was fired up um it's Brad Holmes Jamie Detroit Lions how you doing man you get towards the end of the third round I'm gonna get hungry so I go upstairs on the sixth floor I get this call you know from a three one three number one I'm just I'm looking down the phone my heart my heart dropped what's going on big man I'm doing great and congratulations are you coming here and compete you're our type of guy you come in here and you just battle it out all right you're gonna fit right in with that what we do and our guys it's the real moment I just felt blessed congratulations and have fun bye-bye oh my gosh I'm so freaked out let's head into the elevator I was pressing elevator elevator would come we ran down six slices of stairs as fast as I can ain't never in stairs as fast I don't even like Stills but I ain't never run this Fair ran down six places uh to get to the lobby to my mama and get to the TV and I'll let and you know when I told my mama she like she jumped real hard the ground on me and you know and I heard from about about 10 seconds you know and just then I just sat in front teeth with my wife says as they call my name and is the best feeling in the world [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and all the hard work I had to put in everything like the long days the short nights all that man it's just finally paid off [Applause] really excited for what his future is going to be with our football team and so being able to land Broderick that basically was just like all right first two days we're good yeah you don't want to be scared to take good players and it was a guy that we wanted yeah couldn't have been any better and with all the movement that we did and all the trades and we're excited [Music] you just caught up in the moment but driving home you get at nine it's one o'clock in the morning it's like damn you did a lot anything else to me we're all done everybody [Music] thank you [Music] all right [Music] top of the morning you guys it's the third day three as a whole it was kind of weird because it was my first time that it was involved in trading a player on your roster while doing the draft at the same time it was different than having to be able to focus just on those picks on that day and that's all you're doing so I'm back and forth and I'm checking back I'm just like okay Kobe's still there he's still there foreign [Music] [Music] so I was with my family we were in Dallas Texas and I remember it was the fifth round and that was like I kind of knew I was going to get drafted in that range [Music] got a Colby pencil but you know you still you don't know so you better have some other players you know within that bucket oh my God right [Music] Kobe was the true definition of our process working he is a guy who came up slowly through our process and there's a good process you're dealing with the pull of thousands of players and it takes a lot of work to get to that final however many you got on on the board he was found by our scouting assistants they watched this kid they got him up to our Pro Staff the Pro Staff watched them and then they gave me a call and had me find out about the background and evaluate the tape and I like the tape right away when I was able to get my eyes on Colby it was like whoa all right like I think we're working with something with this dude Kobe Source doll is a Dan Campbell type guy another tough gritty Guy Hair hanging out the back of his helmet you see it on film he was playing to the whistle every snap he was just taking guys to the ground and I was like man a guy that played very well at William and Mary as a right tackle got invited to the east west All-Star game uh played some guard really excited get a guy that can play multiple position and he's got the personality he's the right human being and he's just a fit for what we're about I like to have fun this this sport that we play you know it's a kids game we're fortunate enough to to play it as grown men and you know I love joking around with the guys but out on the field man I'm a smart and calculated person but there's something to be said about being in the trenches you gotta strap your helmet up and you know you got to punch somebody in the mouth and that's what I love to do that's what I love about my position and I'm going out there and being a bad guy I was like man he got a nasty streak nothing we don't like this kid he just fits what we're about on the offensive line and just playing physical playing with grit having strained playing smart you know his understanding of angles and you know getting to the second level uh width of the pocket protection I knew once I got the character on this guy I was like he's gonna fit in perfectly with what we do in the culture around here so like ah personal character check is good football character check even better mental check even better position flexibility check so I'm glad we got Kobe and the whole weekend was a blur I mean I remember getting the call and then my heart just like Sprite homes General Management Detroit Lions how you doing we're fired up for you man we like your versatility man that's how you compete man the phone call went you know hey this is Brad Holmes from the Detroit Lions and I was like what's going on Brad like I was just so excited I couldn't even get uh you know Wards out you got a lot of Versatility you got a lot of room to grow too everything about you says that you're going to put everything into it to get better so this is we're excited man you'll you fit us like a glove so you're welcome man it was awesome and I remember just coming back to my family and everybody had their you know phones out recording me and it was uh it was surreal [Music] [Music] [Applause] Colby definitely product of the process and being able to land him where we were able to get him that's what you feel good about [Applause] Antoine Arena that was easy that was easy at 219. like wait this dude's still there it's a guy that we had higher than the seventh round that we were just kind of shocked that he was still there yeah I love it I was thrilled with how he went it was another guy that we had a lot of affinity for in the process you know Randall L and Seth you know had to add a lot of love for him as well which matched up with our conviction good player to get we feel like he can catch it pretty cleanly and he could run pretty good route and he stretched the field that's one of the biggest things we see uh just in terms of him getting off the ball and going [Music] touchdown Carolina a diving catch by Antoine green getting the competitor and I love to win my ultimate goal is I want to win the Super Bowl with this team so that's what we're going to make happen a guy that's got size he's got vertical speed he's a good kid he's smart I'm a I'm a plant maker man I stretch the field I'm able to do everything when I start rallies long rails and immediate routes anything so I mean I like to stretch to feel and stretch out of Defense I faced a lot of adversity in my career and that I'm I'm still here so my mom always saw me just be back other than I was yesterday so competing with myself all the time and not worrying about anybody else it's just my testimony and I give all my glory to God she's wired right you know he's got some development to do but I know that if we didn't get up to 219 for the trade with with Philly Antoine green wasn't lasting much much further than that San Francisco perfect ocean how to get past one I mean it was a great experience overall I was just at peace with whatever was going to happen that day so I'm just grateful for everything that led me to that point in my life [Music] it was crazy to me because it's something I dreamed of my entire life and just waiting on that moment and having him call me was a dream come true to me you ready to be alive so congratulations guys Mr Green congratulations thank you you hear me okay hello hello [Music] yeah he's not there hey Antoine hey coach wants to talk to you real quick all right that's why you hang up on me man oh man congratulations oh good man hold on to your celebration here I'm gonna pass you to see the half okay our owner dark congrats man we thought you ran away okay good well I know you're fast so I thought maybe it's her life but um anyway congratulations um it's awesome so I can even get a lot of excitement going on behind you appreciate it all right well well here have fun celebrating congratulations and we'll see you soon to be able to lay in him uh especially at 219 it it it couldn't have been any better great job Brad wow a lot of good work shirts yeah that was great work Brad and I have a true vision of the way that we see this roster and the type of players we acquire I've always said let's make sure we get the intangin boards right let's make sure that we're right on a human being you really need to meet a certain type of criteria and those guys check those boxes they endear themselves to their teammates they've got real good character and then they're productive players we want guys that are smart we want guys that are instinctive you know we want guys that are that are Relentless we know what we're doing we know who we won and everybody is on the same page in terms of what we're trying to accomplish and the culture that we have in place and it all starts with our Scouts they make this entire engine run you know it's always great to see your guys from your area who you kind of pound your fists on the table for to get drafted so it is a good feeling because you do put a lot of work in trying to get these guys and get them right and when it actually happens it's a really good feeling you know you do work on a guy for two years and you want to be able to talk about them and they really listen around here like you really get your chance to go in and really tell how you feel about a guy they really teared up in their conviction and their involvement all their hard work that they do couldn't be more appreciative of everything that they do you know working a football we all have sacrifice and it's long hours being away from your family and being away from home all the time and so when players from your area are players that you know will make an impact for the organization and you can bring those players in all the long hours all the time away from home all the nights and hotel rooms all the bad food it kind of comes to fruition and you know it was all worth it it's such a collaborative effort and it's not you can just say collaboration but you have to be with the right people and we just have the right people in our group and also it comes down to the conviction you took the same approach in 21. we took the same approach in 22. we're going to continue taking that same approach I feel like every year we've added competition in each group but the bottom line is their personal character would tell you they have the ability to to develop and that's that's what we want when you come in this building you just know what you're getting into you're a good college football player and then you have to restart when you get to the National Football League so I've already learned so much and see what I can do and put it out there on the field so they didn't put so much faith into me and I'm going to work as hard as I can to be the best player I can be I'll be the most excited to get to play football just trying to soak it all up from the coaching staff down to the veteran players who have been here and I'm just excited to keep it wrong the shock value of being in the NFL is gone and now it's just you know getting ready to work and I'm excited for what we're going to do every one of these guys we got are football players and for guys to go win those jobs man they have to scratch and Claw for them I've worked very hard you know to get here I'm going to continue to learn and continue to be hungry and now that I'm here it's a blessing playing in the league playing with my teammates uh seeing what kind of team we can be and I think we're doing something special for me to be out there living my dream I'm blessed we're working on a go-to on the Super Bowl and that's my main objective and whatever I can do to get on that field to help them that's our main goal I think our fans are going to be really really proud and really excited about what they see and I'm not saying like a year and a two year we believe that these guys are ready to go right now good

Channel: Detroit Lions

Views: 351,883

Keywords: Detroit Lions, football, NFL, Detroit, Michigan, sports

Id: NQsk1VLyeo8

Length: 90min 1sec (5401 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 27 2023