Jack Campbell is becoming the league's best linebacker right before our very eyes

It's funny to look back at the post-draft grades for the Detroit Lions' 2023 draft class. All of that talk of "worst draft ever" has gone by the wayside as the Lions are once again competing for the best record in the NFL, thanks to the players they selected.

Three of those first four picks have since been selected to the Pro Bowl. Tight end Sam LaPorta was also selected to the Second-Team All-Pro in his rookie season. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs and safety Brian Branch are widely expected to receive All-Pro consideration themselves this season. However, 2025 is beginning to look like the year of the other draft pick -- linebacker Jack Campbell.

The gritty Campbell, surprisingly no relation to head coach Dan Campbell, was selected 18th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. His pick was criticized at the time, given positional needs such as cornerback. Even so, the Gibbs picked at #12 was the focus of the discourse. Between that and the early successes of Gibbs, LaPorta, and Branch, Campbell became forgotten. It's becoming tough to ignore him now.

Campbell turned in another fantastic performance in the Lions' 37-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Campbell recorded 11 tackles, with three of them solo tackles. Campbell also had a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

On the season, Campbell's 48 combined tackles rank him tied for fourth in the league. His 27 solo tackles are tied for sixth. Only two players have forced more fumbles than Campbell, and neither plays LB. Buffalo Bill's Joey Bosa leads the way with four, while Campbell's teammate Aidan Hutchinson has three.

General manager Brad Holmes hasn't had a perfect draft track record, but he's made numerous franchise-altering picks. Campbell is becoming another name to point to when draft analysts inevitably critique Holmes' 2026 draft.

Campbell earns high marks from Pro Football Focus

Campbell doesn't just stand out in the box score. Pro Football Focus backs up what Lions fans already know. Campbell is an elite LB and firmly in the discussion for being the best right now.

Campbell has the third-highest defensive grade among LBs (90.7) after Sunday's slate of games, just behind San Francisco 49ers' Fred Warner (93.0) and Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd (91.0). Among those three, Campbell has the highest run defense grade (92.0) while having a quality pass defense grade (76.4).

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Entering Monday Night Football, Campbell posted the highest defensive grade among LBs (92.8), per Al Karsten of Pride of Detroit. Karsten also noted that Campbell is the highest-graded LB across the past three weeks (92.3).

PFF's love for Campbell isn't anything new. During his breakout 2024 season, they awarded him with Second-Team All-Pro honors at the LB position. Early in 2025, Campbell appears to have taken another massive leap forward. One that might get AP All-Pro love alongside the other three members of that amazing first two draft rounds in 2023. If he keeps this up, Campbell may even have a case for being the best pick out of the four -- as absurd as that may sound.