Tag: Brad Holmes

Lessons from the Detroit Lions draft of 2022

Lessons from the Detroit Lions draft of 2022 and how GM Brad Holmes and his crew value the draft

The second draft cycle for the Detroit Lions regime helmed by GM Brad Holmes closed last week. An impressive draft class that featured two top-12 overall picks highlights the Lions haul from the 2022 NFL draft weekend.

What did the second draft class of the Holmes/Dan Campbell era tell us about the Lions and the men making the decisions?

Consider this an extrapolation of the historical drafting profiles of the men in the front office from before last year’s draft. Through the first two drafts, the early reads on GM Brad Holmes, Assistant GM Ray Agnew, senior advisor John Dorsey and the Lions front office have proven pretty darn prescient.

Brad Holmes showed his aggressive nature and planning in trading up to land Jameson Williams

Holmes revealed the draft-day trade with the Vikings was agreed upon well before Thursday night

When the Detroit Lions bundled three draft picks in a trade package and sent them to the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night, it wasn’t some spontaneous action. Lions GM Brad Holmes and his Minnesota counterpart, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, had agreed to the basic framework of the trade well before the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

In a great interview with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Holmes explained that the Lions chose to be aggressive there to land one of the top receivers two weeks before the draft. Everyone in Allen Park — notably head coach Dan Campbell and owner Shiela Ford Hamp — agreed this was the proper course of action, so Holmes got busy on the phones.

Holmes called four teams around No. 12, both before and after the Vikings pick, and all four said they were interested in moving down, with everyone realizing contingencies were attached.

A few days later, Holmes followed up with Adofo-Mensah to finalize the parameters of the deal, and after working the phones the morning of the draft, he called the Vikings’ first-year GM around 3 or 4 p.m. Thursday from the Lions’ Allen Park practice facility.

We learned a few things here…

First, the Lions really wanted to upgrade the wide receiving group and had no qualms about parting with picks 32 and 34 to make that happen. That indicates they valued Williams significantly higher than any wideout (Christian Watson, Jahan Dotson, Wan’Dale Robinson, John Metchie) generally projected in that range of the draft.

Second, they valued Williams enough to send those picks to a division rival. While the taboo of intradivisional trading is somewhat overblown, it’s still a different beast than making this sort of trade with the Texans in the AFC South at No. 13, as an example. Facing the other side of the trade coin twice a year is a lot different than playing it once every four seasons. Holmes and the Lions believed it was that important to get Williams.

Also, it reinforces what Holmes stated several times this offseason: they were actively looking to move around in the draft. While we didn’t know exactly how that would play out, Holmes wasn’t just feeding us a line.

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Brad Holmes on the QB class sliding in the draft: ‘I think they were evaluated properly’

Holmes opened up about the gap between how fans and draft media viewed the QBs vs. how the NFL teams evaluated their skills

Going into the 2022 NFL draft weekend, many pundits expected at least three quarterbacks to be selected in the first round. More than a few believed the Detroit Lions would take Liberty QB Malik Willis with the No. 2 overall pick.

Yet when the dust settled on the first two days, Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh wound up being the first QB selected at No. 20 overall. No other QBs came off the board until Atlanta chose Desmond Ridder with the 10th pick of the third round. The Cincinnati Bearcats QB was the No. 74 overall choice.

Willis had to wait even longer. He wound up being picked by the Tennessee Titans at No. 86 overall. Several QB-needy teams passed on Willis, Ridder and Matt Corral (No. 94 overall to the Panthers) multiple times.

It led to considerable consternation from fans and those in the draft media, specifically those who believed Willis was a top-10 overall lock. The NFL clearly saw things differently. Lions GM Brad Holmes spoke about the discrepancy between how Detroit and other NFL teams felt about the QBs and the pre-draft perception of media and fans.

“I think the quarterbacks were evaluated and graded as what they were evaluated and graded as,” Holmes said after Friday night’s third round concluded. “Look, in personnel, we can’t control how the media grades and evaluates and the outside people grade and evaluates. When quarterbacks are being tabbed as this, this, that, that and that by the outside narrative – and I’m not saying – often, the media, they have contacts in scouting and they’re talking to people in personnel, and if it is, it is.

I looked at the quarterbacks and I thought that they were taken where we thought they should have been taken, at least from our standpoint. I didn’t see it as they were being mistreated or not being taken fairly. I think they were evaluated properly.”

That’s a pretty blunt assessment. The Lions just didn’t feel like the quarterbacks, be it Willis or Ridder or Sam Howell, were talented enough to merit being drafted anywhere close to where fans and media largely expected them to be. It’s an affirmation of the near-universal consensus that this was not a good QB class. That narrative dates back a full year, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised when the NFL buys into the narrative and doesn’t reach to destroy it.

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Lions GM Brad Holmes breaks down why the team drafted Josh Paschal in the 2nd round

Holmes fielded several questions in his Friday night press conference about why the team chose Paschal and how they envision using him

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes threw a bit of a curveball by selecting Kentucky DE Josh Paschal in the second round. It was an unexpected pick with so many other more prominent prospects at different positions still on the board, but Holmes is quite happy with the way the No. 46 overall pick played out.

Holmes fielded several questions in his Friday night press conference about why the team chose Paschal and how they envision using him.

“We do have a vision for him,” Holmes stated. “Just the things that I said about his ability to be an inside rusher in sub situations and see what he’ll be able to do on the edge as well.”

Holmes emphasized the competitive aspect of the team-building process.

“It’s competition. He’s going to have to come in and compete. Nothing is going to be given to him, but we do have a vision for him just as all the players we acquire. I don’t think you can ever have too many pass rushers. That’s kind of how we feel from there, and then we’ll just let it sort out,” Holmes said.

The GM then talked more about what attracted the Lions to Paschal.

“Yeah, he’s got pop in his hands. He’s got incredible instincts,” Holmes told reporters. “He can shed, he can find the football in the run game. He’s beat some really good tackles down in the SEC. He’s a skillful pass rusher. He’s got crafty hands and he’s explosive. He’s high-motor explosive. He’s a football player, and that’s what we talk about all the time.

Not one of these guys that we’ve acquired aren’t gritty. That’s what all these guys are. These guys are gritty football players. Josh is one, but he’s more than that. He’s outstanding, intangibles and character. He should be able to contribute hopefully soon.”

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Brad Holmes says Lions ‘never thought of moving up’ to No. 1

Holmes also noted the Lions graded Jameson Williams in the same top group as Hutchinson

One of the pre-draft points of discussion was if the Detroit Lions would consider moving up from No. 2 to No. 1 to ensure they land the player of their choosing. Lions GM Brad Holmes put a quick end to that speculation in his press conference following Thursday night’s first round.

“I never really thought of moving up,” Holmes said. “That just never — I thought about it passing by me but we were kind of good sitting at two. Obviously had no idea if Aidan (Hutchinson) was going to be there or not.”

Earlier in his presser, Holmes indicated the Lions had several players ranked the same, with Michigan’s Hutchinson being one of those players. His response to the question about possibly moving up makes it clear the Lions were not going to be distraught if the Jaguars took Hutchinson at No. 1.

Interestingly, Holmes noted that the Lions included Jameson Williams in the cluster of equally graded players at the top of their board. The Lions traded three picks (32, 34, 66) to the Minnesota Vikings to move up to No. 12 and select the Alabama wide receiver. Detroit also received the Vikings’ second-round pick at No. 46 in the trade.

“Obviously we had all those guys graded evenly and (Hutchinson) was one of them,” Holmes said. “And obviously Jameson was one of them as well.”

Brad Holmes on the Lions pick at No. 2: ‘Anything can happen’

Holmes didn’t bite on giving away any sensitive information in his final pre-draft press conference

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes held his final pre-draft summit with reporters on Thursday. Anyone looking for clues on what Holmes and the Lions might do in the 2022 NFL draft next weekend likely came away with handfuls of empty breadcrumb trails.

Holmes was courteous and direct while at the same time deftly not tipping his hand in any one direction for the Lions’ options with the No. 2 overall pick. When asked how strongly he felt about the (unnamed) top two options for the second pick, Holmes offered up a broad response.

“Well, anything can happen at any day, I will say that,” Holmes said. “But it’s not just narrowing it down to your top two. You better have your top five. You better have your top 10 in place because you just don’t know what’s going to happen each day. We do have it narrowed down, and we feel confident where we’re at with how we have it pared down. We’ll just let the process unfold.”

Holmes alluded to the possibility of a trade down, something he’s previously brought up as an area the Lions were exploring. He downplayed any new information or developments, noting “there hasn’t been a whole lot”, since he talked to reporters at the NFL owners’ meeting last month.

He reinforced his own statements from the NFL scouting combine about what the team desires in the No. 2 pick. In the process, he kept the door open for a quarterback–or any impact player at any position.

“Well, I’ll keep it consistent. I’ve been saying all along that we’re looking for a game-changer at that pick,” Holmes stated. “Really at any picks, and I said all positions. So, if that position is a quarterback, then it’s a quarterback. Just because often, it’s been stated that, well, picking up there, it’s either going to be a quarterback or a pass rusher or a tackle and all that type of stuff. But look, I said from day one, give me a game-changer at any position, and there are multiple positions where we do see that potential game-changers could be there in the future.”

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Braylon Edwards, co-host don’t want Lions to draft Kyle Hamilton

Do you agree with them?

Does Braylon Edwards have bitter feelings about Notre Dame? After all, the Irish beat Michigan in two of the three meetings they had during his time with the Wolverines. Regardless, he and digital show host Ryan Ermanni don’t think Kyle Hamilton is worth the second overall selection in the NFL draft, which is held by the Detroit Lions. Considering their show is based in Detroit, it would make sense as to why they’re so invested in who they don’t want the Lions to pick:

Is Hamilton worthy of being the second overall pick? Probably not, but it still is very interesting to see two guys so invested in not wanting one player drafted in a certain spot. Are they that worried that Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes is going to take him? Maybe it should happen just to force them to support a former Notre Dame player, even if it’s begrudgingly.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Brad Holmes addresses those critical of the team’s approach in free agency

Holmes explained why the team brought back so many players from last year and why they’ve not been so active otherwise

Lions GM Brad Holmes addressed one of the big complaints about his actions in his second offseason. During a session with some local Detroit media at the NFL owners’ meeting in Florida, Holmes responded to the charge that he’s not done enough to improve the team in free agency.

“When I hear that people wanted us to get more external help, it’s just, the grass is not always greener and then you kind of know who the culture fits are and who aren’t,” Holmes told reporters. “But we’re really happy with the guys that we brought back. Again, it’s a testament to our organization about the guys that wanted to come back and the production they had last year.”

The Lions have brought back 15 players from last year’s team, including 11 unrestricted free agents. The names include both reserve QBs, Tim Boyle and David Blough, as well as wide receivers Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond. It’s been a point of contention when the team has available cap room to seek out upgrades in free agency. Thus far, the Lions have added just WR DJ Chark, LB Chris Board, TE Garrett Griffin, CB Mike Hughes and former Lions first-round flop, LB Jarrad Davis. Only Chark and perhaps Board project to start.

Holmes continued, expanding upon the point of why the team values continuity so much.

“I totally understand, from especially our fans’ perspective, that you say, ‘Look man, 3-win team, why are you bringing back the same players?’ But as much work as we put into the production that those players had in our system, and then having that continuity with the coaching staff coming back as well, there’s a lot of optimism for that. And again, it’s still being aggressive. It’s just that it’s not always saying that you’re not being aggressive if you’re not going the external route.”

This comment struck me personally, because I am one of those who has been openly critical of the plan to bring back so many players who were big parts of the team finishing an unacceptable 3-13-1 a year ago. I watched players like Boyle and Alex Anzalone prove they just weren’t good enough when given ample chances.

Why not try someone else who has proven they’re better, albeit in a different organization and system? It’s something I’ve asked repeatedly. I’m glad Holmes addressed it directly. He believes in the coaching staff and the culture. He believes that continuity and cohesion matter more than change for the sake of change.

To be clear, I’m not as frustrated with the lack of free agent imports as I am with the seeming urgency and prominent valuation of eminently replaceable players from a year ago. Was the league really beating down the door to sign Boyle or Raymond or Anzalone (yes, Anzalone did say he had other offers)? The reason so many fans want the team to draft a wideout (or two), a linebacker (or two) and a new quarterback is precisely because those very players Holmes coveted to bring back didn’t get the job done a year ago.

Holmes answered the question and did so honestly. It’s awesome that he, and the Lions organization as a whole, shows deep faith in the long-term plan and the coaching acumen of Dan Campbell and his coaching staff chock full of former players. I still question just how much juice he believes they can squeeze out of the lemons, but at least there’s an adherence to an actual plan — a smartly conceived plan that plays to the strengths of the staff. Player development and cultural fits absolutely matter, and that’s what Campbell is all about. The players they brought back, while of limited talent, buy into that culture. That needs to matter, probably more than folks like me would like to acknowledge.

Good on Holmes for defending his position and explaining why the Lions are making a lot of us scratch our heads with some of the decisions the team has made in 2022.

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Lions GM Brad Holmes: ‘We’ve had dialogue with a couple of teams’ about trading back from No. 2 overall

Holmes is actively working the trade talks a month before the 2022 NFL draft

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For a relatively new general manager, Lions GM Brad Holmes has quickly learned how to play the NFL draft smoke game. Holmes, now in his second draft season, revealed that he has discussed trade possibilities involving the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

“We’ve had dialogue with a couple of teams,” Holmes told reporters on Tuesday in Florida. “I wouldn’t say it’s been a lot, but it has been a couple teams we’ve had some dialogue with.”

It’s smart of Holmes to put that out there — whether it’s factual or not. Stoking any possible trade fires is good business for the Lions, who might not be in love with any of the options at No. 2 any more than they are at, say, No. 5 or No. 10. Extracting maximum value for the pick is Holmes’ job, and he understands that it’s a marketable commodity.

He’s even let it be known the Lions are willing to deal without even knowing who the Jaguars select with the No. 1 pick.

“Definitely we could pull that trade off, if the other team is willing, before the draft,” Holmes added.

It might not amount to anything. Most preliminary draft deal discussions never advance beyond the kindling stages. However, trying to ignite interest in the pick is part of what Holmes needs to do. With no clear-cut choice at No. 2, there’s almost certainly some validity to Detroit’s willingness to part with the premium spot for more irons in the draft fire a little later on.

Give Holmes credit: he’s been consistent in his approach. Here’s what he said about the idea of trading out of No. 2 at the Senior Bowl in Mobile in February,

“I’m always open for whatever. We’re still in the early stages of it, we’ve got a good feel of the class, we’re at a much better place at this stage of the process than last year. But, still, we’ve got a lot more work to do. But, I’m never scared to move around, so we’re definitely open for business, always.”

Whether another team finds Holmes’ smoke intoxicating enough is largely out of the Lions’ control, but at least they’re making every effort to keep the fire burning bright.

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Brad Holmes: Lions will pick up 5th-year option on T.J. Hockenson

Holmes told reporters the team will pick up the 5th-year contract option on TE T.J. Hockenson

One of the many questions facing the Detroit Lions in the coming months was answered on Tuesday by GM Brad Holmes. During his time with reporters at the NFL owners’ meeting in Florida, Holmes declared the team will pick up the fifth-year contract option on tight end T.J. Hockenson.

“Hockenson, obviously, he’s a big part of what we did last year,” Holmes said. “It was unfortunate when he became unavailable for us, but he’s another (player) that we’ll continue to lean on this year.”

Picking up the option was likely not a difficult decision. Hockenson has emerged as one of the NFL’s better tight ends, earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2020 and leading the Lions in reception (61) and yards (583) prior to a season-ending injury after 12 games.

Because of the Pro Bowl nod, Hockenson’s option price is a little more expensive. He will earn $9.4 million in 2023, fully guaranteed. Hockenson and the Lions are free to work out a contract extension at any point, too. The deadline for the team to pick up the option is May 2nd.