Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the top players at his position in the 2023 NFL Draft. He may not be Bijan Robinson, but he’s the next best thing in this year’s draft class.
Gibbs is viewed as one of the fastest running backs available in the upcoming prospect pool, and unlike Robinson, won’t require a first-round pick to secure his services. Like Robinson, Gibbs is a gamechanger in the backfield, both as a runner and a receiver, but he’s not quite built the same as his counterpart out of Texas.
Instead, Gibbs comes with a much smaller stature, which may hinder his ceiling in the eyes of some at the next level. Still, as one of the best running back prospects available, expect a lot of teams looking to provide a spark to their backfield to put Gibbs under the microscope until draft day as they try to uncover his strengths and weaknesses.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft order, picks by team
Our Jahmyr Gibbs NFL Draft profile examines his resumé, scouting report, and measurables while also projecting his future.
Jahmyr Gibbs measurements
- Jahmyr Gibbs height: 5-foot-9
- Jahmyr Gibbs weight: 199 pounds
Let’s dive into Sportsnaut’s Jahmyr Gibbs draft profile.
Jahmyr Gibbs stats and background
While Gibbs may be viewed as one of the best running back prospects set to hit the NFL next season, he wasn’t always expected to take the league by storm. In fact, Gibbs was just a three-star recruit coming out of high school, before being bumped to a four-star prospect during his senior year.
Gibbs even began his career with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets but transferred to Alabama after making 17 starts over two years. While Gibbs was able to average a respectable 5.2 yards per carry at Georgia Tech taking on ACC competition, he maintained his form even when playing against top-rate SEC teams as well.
| Jahmyr Gibbs stats | Attempts | Rush yards | TDs | Rec yards | PFF Grade |
| 2021 (Georgia Tech) | 143 | 746 | 4 | 465 | 88.4 |
| 2022 (Alabama) | 151 | 926 | 7 | 444 | 82.6 |
As effective as Gibbs was as a rusher and receiver, he also contributed on kick returns, averaging 25.6 yards per return in addition to a touchdown in 2020. He could very well handle return duties in the NFL as well.
Gibbs has never been asked to handle bellcow duties in a backfield, and maybe he operates better this way, keeping his legs fresh for all four quarters while also helping him stay healthy. Either way, at just 21 years old, Gibbs appears poised to be ready for whichever role an NFL team is ready to offer.
Statistics courtesy of College Football Reference, ESPN, and Pro Football Focus
Scouting Alabama Crimson Tide RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Make no mistake, the best trait Gibbs has is his pure speed. He ran a blistering 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and judging from his work at Alabama, he doesn’t slow down once he puts the pads on. Some have likened his stop-and-start ability to that of a Corvette.
Gibbs certainly has the long-range speed to outrun NFL defenders, taking long scores to the house. But it’s not just his speed that helps Gibbs win between the lines. His footwork is impeccable, helping him navigate through traffic with ease. This ability should help Gibbs continue to make defenders miss at the next level, as well as develop into a lethal weapon catching passes out of the backfield.
Gibbs was so electrifying in the open field at Alabama that Pro Football Focus gave the rusher a 99.1 elusiveness rating. In all, he was credited with 38 missed tackles, but he averaged the sixth-highest yards per route among tailbacks in 2022 per PFF.
Related: NFL teams view Texas running back Bijan Robinson as ‘top-5’ player in 2023 NFL Draft
- Jahmyr Gibbs draft grade: 81/100
- Jahmyr Gibbs draft projection: Day 2 pick
Teams interested in Gibbs in the NFL Draft know what they’re seeking. A shifty back capable of winning on obvious passing situations who can provide a jolt of speed to their team. He may not be the top option, but he certainly has the potential to become an instant star thanks to his all-around talent that may be too slippery to contain.
Projecting Jahmyr Gibbs’s NFL career
Any team that adds Gibbs will have a hard time keeping him off the field once he gets acclimated. If given enough touches, both as a rusher and a pass-catcher, while also maybe getting some return opportunities, Gibbs could have Rookie of the Year potential.
If he hits his ceiling, Gibbs could easily annually top 1,000 yards as a rusher, with another 500 yards or so coming as a receiver. No matter what, he’ll get pass-catching opportunities, and how many carries he receives year to year could ultimately determine how successful he can be.
From a talent standpoint, there is very little to question, we’re more so curious to see how Gibbs holds up over the course of time, taking a beating from bigger, stronger, and faster NFL defenders.
A team may see Gibbs’s combination of speed, skill, and ability to handle all three downs and view him as a late first-round pick, but chances are he becomes a second-round selection in April. If so, one NFL team will be adding a lot of speed to their backfield, and possibly even a future starter.
Some ideal NFL fits for Jahmyr Gibbs:
- Cincinnati Bengals – 28th pick
- Los Angeles Rams – 36th pick
- Detroit Lions – 48th pick
- Pittsburgh Steelers – 49th pick
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 50th pick
- Miami Dolphins – 51st pick
- Chicago Bears – 53rd pick
- Los Angeles Chargers – 54th pick
While any of these teams could be ones to watch on draft day, it also would not shock to see a franchise move up to secure a player with the potential that Gibbs has.
Whoever gets the Alabama running back will be adding an instant playmaker, and by all appearances, one who should have no trouble adjusting to the size and speed of the NFL. Finding similar players with as high of a boom factor while also seemingly having a low miss rate like Gibbs are hard to come by. For that reason alone, Gibbs could hear his name picked earlier than expected on draft day.
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