The Detroit Lions made seven selections in the 2021 NFL draft, loading up on the trenches with their first three picks. Brad Holmes, the first-year general manager hired in January from the Los Angeles Rams, waited until the fourth round and his fifth pick to select a receiver, after the team’s top-3 wideouts all departed
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The first NFL Draft for the Lions’ tandem of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell is in the books, and the early returns are promising. That’s according to NFL analysts, at least, who generally handed out A’s and B’s to the Lions’ 2021 class. That includes an A-plus from Danny Kelly of
For 12 or so minutes Thursday, on the most important morning of his professional life, Brad Holmes sat cross-legged on a bath towel beside his bed at The Henry Hotel in Dearborn — his temporary home for the past three months — and envisioned himself on a remote island surrounded by water. Holmes had woke
With the 2021 NFL draft in the books, the Detroit Lions are working on the “eighth” round. The Lions currently have 72 players on their roster, which means they could sign more than a dozen undrafted free agents. Here is a look at players confirmed or reported to be in this year’s class: • Sage
Penei Sewell grew up on the main island of American Samoa, though “main” is a rather relative term, given the island is barely 50 square miles — or a little more than a third the size of his new home, the City of Detroit. His actual home was even more modest, a pink structure that
It was a weird start and a furious finish to the 2021 NFL draft for the Detroit Lions. We got three straight linemen the first two days the draft, then some wheeling and dealing to fill needs on Day 3. Now that the draft is in the books, here’s a look at the winners and
Show Caption Hide Caption Why taking Penei Sewell was the ‘right thing to do’ for Detroit Lions Detroit Lions reporter Dave Birkett breaks down why he’s a fan of the team’s draft pick, Penei Sewell, a former Oregon Ducks offensive tackle. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press A few weeks ago, I was watching ESPN and
While the debate rages over whether the Detroit Lions landed “a generational player” or simply a solid, if unneeded, offensive line cog in their selection of Oregon tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft, we do know this: Their selection is one of the youngest in this year’s
With the third-to-last pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, acquired as part of trade with the Cleveland Browns early Saturday afternoon, the Lions selected Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson. Jefferson is coming off a season where he appeared in six games, rushing for 858 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and scored eight touchdowns. A below-average athlete,
The Detroit Lions have just one pick left in this year’s NFL Draft, but the experts are liking what they see out of Detroit so far. New general manager Brad Holmes grabbed USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown with his first pick (112th overall) of Day 3 before trading up to grab Purdue linebacker Derrick
The NFL draft was exciting. The Detroit Lions were not. While other teams like Jacksonville were building explosiveness by moving Clemson’s starting backfield into their own, the Lions seemed intent on putting their fan base to sleep. They picked, in order, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, defensive lineman and cornerback, a position they used their high first
The Lions wrapped up their 2021 NFL Draft class Saturday in Cleveland with three selections. The Day 3 picks were met mostly favorably by draft analysts nationally. Adding some skill-position punch and defensive depth were seen as proper steps. Detroit selected USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown with the 112th pick in the fourth round. They traded
The Detroit Lions made sure Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow would stick around through at least the 2022 season when they exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie contract last week. Their intentions, however, are to keep him around much longer than that. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Saturday re-signing Ragnow is one of
After picking up the fifth-year option earlier this week, the Detroit Lions have center Frank Ragnow under contract through the 2022 season. But that’s not good enough for general manager Brad Holmes. On Saturday, after wrapping up his first draft with the franchise, Holmes stated signing Ragnow to a long-term extension is a priority. “Yeah,
After adding seven players in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions quickly got to work lining up the additions of several undrafted free agents. Not surprising, given the team still has nearly 20 open roster spots to play with. “We’re going to keep that fluid,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said. “It does not have to
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions‘ 2021 NFL draft class. Best pick: Penei Sewell At the risk of being Mr. Obvious, this is an easy call. Sewell was the best offensive lineman in the draft and one of three elite non-quarterbacks available. The Lions, in need of blue-chip talent, did the
The Detroit Lions traded up to pick Derrick Barnes, a linebacker from Purdue, at No. 113 overall in the 2021 NFL draft on Saturday. One pick earlier at No. 112, the Lions took Amon-Ra St. Brown, a receiver from USC, with the seventh pick in the fourth round to open Day 3. Barnes is a senior from Covington,
The Detroit Lions entered the third day of the NFL draft with glaring long-term needs at both wide receiver and linebacker, but managed to address both within 30 minutes of the fourth round beginning on Saturday. The Lions used the No. 112 pick to snag USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, then traded their fifth-round choice
Fifteen receivers came off the board in the first three rounds of the 2021 NFL draft, and there is a good chance another 15-plus will come off the board on Day 3 Saturday. The Detroit Lions spent the first two days of the draft adding size upfront on both lines and getting help for their
Brad Holmes told you. He was clear as water when he said it. The. Best. Player. Available. That’s the philosophy of the Detroit Lions new general manager. He showed this again Friday night, during Rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL draft. Select a defensive tackle in the second round? Cool. The Lions could use one.