Detroit Lions mid-season rookie report cards

The Lions caught a lot of flak when they drafted Gibbs with the 12th overall pick back in April. Then they caught some flak when they didn't immediately give him all the carries that the team could possibly give away. 

As the season has gone on, people have started to come around on this pick. In the last two weeks people are really starting to understand why this pick was made. Gibbs has been electric. Especially on Monday night against the Raiders. I can't remember a time when the Lions had a running back that was so good that they just kept giving him the ball because they knew there was no way the opposing defense could stop him. That's what Gibbs did Monday. 

You can see going forward that he's going to be a much bigger part of the Lions offense. But becasue they took their time with him and we haven't seen a long amount of sustained success, I have to give him a lower grade than you might think he deserves at this exact moment. 

Grade: B-    

Jack Campbell

Much like Gibbs, people couldn't understand why the Lions took Campbell so high. Unlike Gibbs, he's seen plenty of time on the field. Some of it has been rough. The kind of play that would expect from a rookie. 

One of the big problems for Campbell is that Nobody could have predicted that Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone would come out and start playing at an elite level this year. They're both having career season's and it's pushed Campbell out of the way a bit. 

The Lions have started using Campbell as a defensive end this year and it's come with mixed reviews. He hasn't been much of a pass rusher. Where he is really very good is as a run stopper. The Lions have become a team that's very good at stopping the run and Jack Campbell has played a big part of that. That's really going to help his grade. 

Grade: C

Sam LaPorta

When you draft a tight end in the NFL you have to expect some growing pains. eight out of 10 times you're going to get a guy that has very limited production in his rookie year and then he'll start to grow as his career goes one. The Lions got a guy that fits more into the two out of 10 category with Sam LaPorta. 

The Lions have found a Pro Bowl caliber tight end. They're not easy to find, but they found him. LaPorta is blowing away just about every projection that a anyone could have had for him. He's doing things that are just not normal for a rookie at his position. He formed a bond with Jared Goff so quickly and that bond is showing on the field every week. He will be in the Rookie of the Year discussion when the season is over. 

Grade: A+

Brian Branch

It's a shame that Branch got hurt for a few games becasue it sort of shifted him out of the spotlight that he was getting for a minute. We all asked how it was possible that he slipped out of the first-round in April. After watching him play this season, we'd all really like to know why he wasn't picked near the top of the first-round. He's been that good. 

He had a rough game against Baltimore, but everyone did. Every other game he's played in he's been great and he's been noticeable. Branch is a guy that has a ceiling on him that is very high. He's already this good, imagine how good he could be in a couple years. 

I do have to lower his grade becasue he did miss some time though. 

Grade: B

Hendon Hooker

I didn't understand the pick then and I still don't understand it now. The Lions have a good quarterback in Goff and he's about to get paid by the Lions. Hooker may never see the field for the Lions outside of the preseason. If he winds up being good, then maybe you can trade him later. I just don't know. 

He's coming off an ACL injury so we've never seen him play in the NFL and he still hasn't been activated yet. So I can't really grade him at this time. 

Grade: Incomplete

Brodric Martin

I think every team does this every year. They see a good foundation in a player and then draft them as a project. Martin is that guy for the Lions this year. He's spent much of the season as healthy scratch and I think that's just becasue he's not ready yet. He did play Monday and it was an ok first game for him. He only played 11 snaps. 

We'll see where things go with Martin in the future. I've always understood what they saw in him. He's athletic and is quick with his hands and feet. He just needs some fine tuning for a little while.

Grade: D

Colby Sorsdal

The Lions may have gotten themselves a little bit of steal in Sorsdal. There's still a lot of work to do, but Sorsdal got his first start on Monday and he looked pretty decent too. Especially since he started at guard. A position that's new to him.

Other than that, he played against the Falcons as well and he looked ok there too. Much like Martin, Sorsdal is a project that can turn into something bigger in the long run. The hope is that he turns into a starting caliber guard for this team. Still need's time and still need to see more. 

Grade: C-

Antoine Green

It's not easy to be a seventh-round pick and make a big impact early on in your career. It just doesn't happen a lot. Green has been active all season, but you haven't really seen him on the field outside of helping out on special teams. He is doing a good job of that though. 

The Lions just have so much that they can do on offense and Green has so many guys in front of him. For that reason, he's only been targeted twice this season. He caught one of those balls for two yards against the Seahawks. 

I don't think he's going anywhere. He has value as a special teams player and as he continues along in the NFL, he'll get the opportunities to get some targets. It's just going to take time for him and that's ok. 

Grade: D+