Lions GM Brad Holmes is in the process of finalizing his NFL Draft board, preparing himself for all scenarios that await. He’s a week away from welcoming a new crop of players to improve the roster he’s been tasked with strengthening.
The goal with this draft? Full speed ahead.
“If you take your foot off the gas, you can have problems lurking down the road,” Holmes said. “So, we’re just being thorough. We’ll be prepared. But I do like the fact that we can pretty much go any direction we want, and we can feel pretty good about it. Just get the right football player for us.”
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Holmes spoke to the local media Thursday for his annual pre-draft news conference, and while he was understandably tight-lipped about Detroit’s plans, he did address some of the more pressing topics surrounding the team, and the ways this draft could inch the Lions closer to contender status.
Holmes on the QB conversation
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who’ve followed Holmes’ comments this offseason, but once again, quarterbacks were a topic of conversation. This comes on the heels of Detroit hosting two quarterback prospects — Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud — for visits this month, and a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Lions have made an offer to veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff said Tuesday while meeting with local media that he has been in communication with Holmes and coach Dan Campbell about the potential of another QB being added, though most of those conversations took place after the season. Goff also said there haven’t been talks about a contract extension for him, perhaps a sign the front office is taking a wait-and-see approach. But the Lions are doing their homework.
“When you’re picking in the top 10, you just want to make sure that you’re pretty thorough on the quarterback market, and I believe that we have done that,” Holmes said. “We have a good idea. There’s always going to be a surprise on draft night — that’s what makes it fun — but we’ll definitely be prepared. (We’ve) got an idea, but just don’t know where a curveball might be thrown.”
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If the Lions are looking to draft a quarterback early, it could come down to whether there’s a prospect they like within striking distance, in addition to what the rest of the board looks like. But of course, there are options later in the draft, too.
Either way, whether it’s via the draft or free agency, expect the Lions to add a third QB to their room.
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“Obviously, we like what Nate (Sudfeld) did,” Holmes said. “That’s why we signed him back. But we’re not pressed, we’re not pinched. If it works out, it lines up, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. We’ll be fine. We’ve got two quarterbacks on the roster now and we’ll definitely have a third at some point.”
The value of first-round RBs in today’s NFL
Holmes was part of the Rams’ scouting department in 2015, when the team drafted running back Todd Gurley 10th overall. That was eight years ago, however, and football tends to evolve over time. So how does Holmes view the running back position, and the idea of drafting one in the first round?
Doesn’t sound like his philosophy has changed a whole lot.
“I kind of just look at it as they’re all football players,” Holmes said. “If they can help you, they can help you. I understand the narrative around that, but if you think a player is that good and he’s out there producing for you, then I don’t think anyone is going to look back” and criticize the pick.
It’s a timely topic, considering the allure of Bijan Robinson — widely regarded as a top-five prospect in terms of talent — and the discussion on his true value. However, it’s not one that necessarily will impact the Lions. When the Rams drafted Gurley, they didn’t have much at the position. They ranked 20th in rushing yards per game the prior season. Their leading rusher was Tre Mason, who rushed for 765 yards overall and 63.8 per game. The Lions have D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery under contract for the 2023 season, which is a much more stable situation than the Rams had ahead of the 2015 draft.
But at the same time, Holmes said he doesn’t draft with a depth chart in mind. Passing on elite talent to fill a need elsewhere can gets teams in trouble. It doesn’t mean the Lions will select Robinson, but it does offer some insight into Holmes’ thought process on the RB position at-large.
Good players are good players.
For our latest Athletic Football Show prospect breakdown, @nickbaumgardner tackled one of the draft's big questions: Just how good is Bijan Robinson? And is he worth a swing in the top half of the first round?https://t.co/pc6mRZfbrE
— Robert Mays (@robertmays) April 12, 2023
The Jalen Carter decision
Come next Thursday, there’s a very real chance the Lions could be staring at one of the most talented prospects in the class at No. 6 overall, there for the taking. That would be Carter, who has been hailed as a difference-maker and potential game-wrecking interior presence. That’s something the Lions have been looking to fill for years now. Detroit brought Carter in for a pre-draft visit this week, hoping to learn a little bit more about him ahead of a potential decision.
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So, then, how did he do?
“We enjoyed our time with him, did a nice job,” Holmes said. “I’ll say even after he left his visit, I felt better about him.”
Holmes didn’t offer a ton about Carter, so it’s probably not worth trying to read into his comments. But the Lions have gathered info on him. At the owners’ meetings in Phoenix last month, Campbell said he chatted with a teammate of Carter’s and got some “interesting” feedback, declining to further elaborate. Now Holmes is saying he feels “better” about Carter after his visit. But at the same time, teams like the Lions that are drafting in the top 10 will have to weigh whether Carter is worth the selection.
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Last month, Carter faced two misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving following a police investigation into a crash that killed Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock on the morning of Jan. 15. Carter pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service, and must also complete a state-approved driving course. In addition to this, Carter’s lackluster pro day — in which he showed up nine pounds heavier than his combine weight and reportedly struggled to complete drills — will need to be further examined.
When asked if there comes a time when the Lions could draft a talented player with questions and hope he embraces the team’s culture, Holmes admitted it depends on a few variables.
“It just depends what those issues are with that player,” Holmes said. “Is it just a maturity thing he just needs to learn or is it this or that? … We like our locker room, we do feel like we have a good, strong locker room, so if you have a player who has some concerns, yeah, there are some guys you can bring in and it’s going to be fine. There are some guys that you might be like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know if it’s going to work.’ It’s just case-by-case always.”
The rare opportunity ahead
The Seahawks and Eagles are the other two teams with winning records picking in the top 10 this year, but neither can match the assets Detroit has at its disposal. It’s the only team with five of the top 81 selections in next week’s draft. Two firsts, two seconds and a third give Holmes a real chance to add talent to a playoff-caliber roster.
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He doesn’t take it for granted.
“You definitely want to take advantage of having this kind of capital,” Holmes said. “You’re not going to put too much pressure on yourself, but it is a unique opportunity.”
Detroit can pretty much do whatever it wants next week, which is something Holmes has said on more than one occasion this offseason. There are few glaring holes on the roster. With nine selections, the Lions have a chance to add quality and future starters up and down the draft, trade up to maximize quality or trade down to increase the number of swings.
“Those opportunities don’t come every year, so you want to take advantage as much as you can,” Holmes said. “But again, we’re just focused on our process in this draft. Regardless of what we did in free agency, regardless of what we did at the end of the season, again, we’ve just got to stay aggressive still, keep our foot on the gas and make sure we’re acquiring the best players. But it does feel good that we have this opportunity with the capital that we have.”
(Photo of Bijan Robinson: Scott Wachter / USA Today)