I’ve been covering the Detroit Lions since 2014. I’ve had to try to figure out three different general managers. Of all three of those guys, there hasn’t been one that it seems some media and some fans think they have figured out more than Brad Holmes. Some just think they know what he’s going to do at every juncture.
He’s been so unpredictable in the last few years that it’s wild that anyone would think that. We talked to Holmes at the 2025 NFL Combine on Tuesday about how it seems that he can become compartmentalized on positions or areas at times and his answer is essentially that the Lions’ draft and free agent strategy is simply to be unpredictable.
“We’re not a needs-based drafting team. Holmes said. “We just get the best football player for us. We don’t really get too fixated on positions.”
It’s a pretty big reminder that the Lions have never really gone out there and drafted the player that you thought they might. In 2021 they drafted a tackle when everyone thought they’d go quarterback or receiver. In 2022 they traded up for a receiver, in 2023 they shocked everyone by taking a running back and then a linebacker. 2024 was really the only draft that you knew they’d take a corner and they did.
There’s been a lot of thought about the Lions taking an edge rusher early in this draft and while they may very well be the way they go, don’t guarantee it. The Lions could feel they want to go with a receiver, an offensive lineman or, even a tight end early. You never know.
The good thing that is the Lions do value the trenches and Holmes did say that.
“I think I’ve made it pretty clear that the trenches are always gonna be a priority for us. I just think that’s where the game is won. Dan (Campbell) and I are aligned on that. You can never really have enough of those guys.”
So there you go. The best thing Lions fans can do going into the draft is expect the unexpected and see where the chips fall. The good news is that this draft is pretty deep with defensive linemen and if the Lions don’t take one early, they could still take one later. We’ll see what happens in April.