ALLEN PARK — As Brad Holmes works on the final preparation for his fifth NFL draft as the Lions GM, it may be wise to remember that he’s not a needs guy, he is looking for the best player available.
Think the Lions need a pass rusher? You’re not alone, but that does not mean Holmes will draft one in the first round with the 28th pick on Thursday night or even the second round on Friday.
“I sometimes don’t understand the whole need thing because when each season ends it’s going to be something else. Like another player’s contract is going to end, another player might unfortunately be coming off an injury. It’s going to be something different every single offseason,’’ Holmes said in his pre-draft presser.
He’s not trying to chase what happened last season when pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson’s season ended in week 5 with a brutal broken leg. He’s a big picture GM.
Holmes, along with coach Dan Campbell, has turned the Lions franchise around. In four drafts, he’s selected six Pro Bowlers. Whatever he’s been doing certainly seems to work even if the pundits might scratch their heads with certain picks.
“Look, we loved (Ennis) Rakestraw and unfortunately he just wasn’t as healthy so he wasn’t able to help as much last year but we’re really excited and looking forward to what he will bring this year,’’ Holmes said.
For Holmes, patience is virtue.
“ When you start chasing need, well that need might make sense for right now at this time but what we make these picks for is future investments,’’ Holmes said. “We live in a society that everything is right now, right now, right now. I understand it too when a player gets drafted and so much fascination is made about the draft, people are excited about it, they want to see it right now. They don’t want to wait and be patient, but there’s just patience.’’
He uses WR Jameson Williams as an example. He jumped 20 spots up to draft him.
“He was coming off his injury. We knew maybe he could play a little bit late in the season, but we weren’t planning on it,’’ Holmes said.
Williams had a breakout season in 2024.
Patience.
The Lions have the 28th pick in the first round, followed by one pick in Round 2 (60th), one in Round 3 (102nd), one in Round 4 (130th), one in Round 6 (196th) and two in Round 7 (228th and 244th).
(The NFL draft opens Thursday, April 24, at 8 p.m. with the first round. The second and third rounds set for Friday at 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will start at noon on Saturday.)
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