Of all the things Dan Campbell has brought to the Lions since taking over as head coach, perhaps the most important is building a distinct “Lions identity.”

He’s shaped the team to reflect the best parts of the city they represent—something every coach will say is way tougher than it seems. There’s just something about Campbell, the Lions, and Detroit that fits together naturally—hard to explain, but obvious to anyone watching.

That’s why the Lions’ newly projected first-round selection—from The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler—is such a fascinating fit. It’s not that the position isn’t needed, but Brugler’s pick doesn’t exactly scream “Campbell guy” when you read the description.

“Detroit has done its due diligence on Hairston, who clocked a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and posted a 40-inch vertical at his pro day. He doesn’t always bring the kind of tackling consistency Campbell prefers, but his coverage ability would give a serious boost to the Lions’ defensive backfield.”

Maybe I’m reading way too far into this (okay, I definitely am), but “lacks the tackling consistency Campbell wants” feels like… a red flag? I don’t claim to fully grasp Dan Campbell’s whole philosophy, but I’m pretty sure tackling is a major pillar.

This is a coach famous for “biting kneecaps” – it’s hard to picture him being cool with a guy who doesn’t wrap up. That said, Hairston is a Michigan native, and you can bet Campbell has already mentioned that to his staff ten times over.

To be fair to Hairston, Brugler does praise him as “a competitive, rangy athlete who can read developing routes and reacts well with impressive ball skills…”

He also notes that “with improved tackling, he could be a solid NFL starter early on.” And at the end of the day, that’s what coaching is for—so if Campbell believes he can coach up the physical edge, maybe this pick makes more sense than it seems at first glance.