Detroit Lions defender named team's potential breakout player for 2024

Detroit Lions defender named team's potential breakout player for 2024

When it comes to the biggest standouts of the offseason thus far for the Detroit Lions, 2023 first-round pick and linebacker Jack Campbell is at or near the top of the list, and he looks poised to have a breakout campaign in 2024.

One analyst who believes that's possible is Pro Football Network's Tony Catalina, who recently named Campbell as the Lions' "potential breakout player" for the upcoming season.

Here's what he said:

Campbell is the exact type of linebacker a Dan Campbell team needs — physical, fearless, and instinctual. He has a chance to be the leader in the middle of that defense for a decade, and perhaps that potential will begin to be realized in 2024.

Not only has Campbell made plays in practice during the spring, he was also praised by his coaches.

Linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard revealed that Campbell has "exceeded my expectations" so far and is "operating like an eight-year vet as far as making the calls, how he sets the standard of how we practice as a defense, and I think other guys are starting to look towards him now."

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn added that Campbell has "taken control of this offseason the way he should take control of it" and labeled the second-year pro a "grown man" who is a "true MIKE backer."

Adding to the idea Campbell will have a breakout campaign, he was seeing first-team reps as Detroit's MIKE linebacker in practice, which means he's in line to have a more prominent role in Year 2.

A lot of attention has been on wide receiver Jameson Williams having a breakout campaign, and rightly so, but Campbell is certainly in the conversation, as well.