Brad Holmes, general manager of the Detroit Lions, has a plan to play the long game into next spring’s NFL draft. He promises that the team will pursue players who complement their long-term vision rather than pursue immediate needs first. Ever since he took the helm in 2021, Holmes has deftly steered the Lions. They’ve drafted six Pro Bowlers, more than any team in the league over that stretch, per ESPN Research.
Holmes is the first to admit that the Lions still have pressing needs. They need a player to fill the void since Kevin Zeitler left for Tennessee and bring in a quarterback to learn behind Jared Goff. Despite all of this, he hasn’t wavered from his philosophy that prefers quality over quantity.
We’re not going to stretch on guys just to fill a particular position. That’s what we don’t do, Holmes asserted during a recent press conference. His emphasis on identifying the right players to match the team’s culture and vision has brought him respect among his NFL peers, just letting the Lions spend more money than everyone else to stock their roster with 50 players.
Perhaps the third greatest area of concern after cornerback and running back, with no immediate need for a defensive tackle. Even with these gaps, Holmes admitted that he is still learning the importance of patience come draft weekend. This simple approach does miracles. He’s able to spot the players whose traits fit what the organization is looking for, regardless of the round they were picked.
Looking back on those first 2 years, a lot of our issues could be attributed to our roster imbalance. So we said, “Damn, we’re going to need this, this, and this!” he explained. Holmes mentioned that even with the team, now deeper with an improved pipeline, being willing to take on more talent is a priority.
As I was telling you guys back then, like Underwood said, man, we need all of it. So, this was more than a job or brief. We didn’t need great students, we just needed football players,” he continued. His praise is hardly given, and his assessment demonstrates a huge change in strategy as the Lions find themselves on the cusp of playoff contention.
Holmes’ aggressive tactics in recent drafts show that he is all in on making the team successful. In 2022, he stepped outside of the box and aggressively traded from the 32nd overall pick to 12th overall. That decision was a clear manifestation of his willingness to act boldly. In 2023, he went all in with the sixth overall pick, trading it to the Arizona Cardinals. In return, he received the 12th and 34th selections, showcasing his remarkable shrewdness.
As the draft approaches, Holmes has not received calls from teams interested in the Lions’ 28th pick but remains open to any opportunity that could enhance his team’s performance. Grab your popcorn and enjoy it, he warned, suggesting a fun-filled draft weekend in-store for Lions fans.
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