Allen Park — If the clearest path to long-term success in the NFL is through the draft, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has reason to be proud of what he’s accomplished through three offseasons at the helm.
Of Holmes’ 23 draft picks, 20 are on the active roster, representing nearly 40% of the team the Lions will take into next week’s season opener. The other three remain part of the organization, as well. Quarterback Hendon Hooker, a third-round choice this year, is on the non-football injury list recovering from an ACL tear. Cornerback Chase Lucas was one of the team’s last cuts this offseason and has since landed on the practice squad. And running back Jermar Jefferson is on injured reserve for the time being after suffering an injury during training camp.
“I guess you look back at it, you feel good about it, but we just focus on selecting the right players and selecting good football players that fit us,” Holmes said on Friday. “You do expect, when you get into rounds one, two, three, four, five, but really, when it gets into the late rounds, sixth-, seventh-rounders, those picks aren’t just throw-away picks or picks just throwing a dart. I mean that’s a concentrated, intentional pick on those guys. So when you select a guy like a (Colby) Sorsdal in the fifth round from William & Mary, I mean yeah, he came in, he got better and better every camp. When you pick an Antoine Green in the seventh round, he has a lot in his body. He’s got some development to do, but I think he showed that over camp.”
Holmes also emphasized the importance of finding talented college prospects who go undrafted. That’s where he and his staff have found additional contributors such as tight end Brock Wright, cornerback Jerry Jacobs, and most recently, cornerback Steven Gilmore.
Last season, Holmes’ draft picks and UDFAs played more than 7,500 offensive and defensive snaps. With no subtractions beyond Lucas (six defensive snaps in 2022), that number figures to increase with the addition of immediate contributors such as Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch and Jack Campbell.
That steady injection of specifically targeted youth, growing together within the culture built by Holmes and coach Dan Campbell, is fueling Detroit’s rise and lofty expectations heading into the 2023 season.
“Yes, we’ve drafted a lot of young players over time, but again, like I was saying earlier, every draft pick is very intentional,” Holmes said. “It’s not just, ‘Let’s find a talented guy.’ I’ve always (said) the talent piece is a very, let’s call it the easy, coherent part of the process. That’s been my (mindset), but just getting the right players and in so doing that, they’re team-guys, they’re locker room-guys. They fit us.”
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
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