Category: nfl draft

After disappointing season, GM Brad Holmes says ‘Lions aren’t that far off’

Despite a disappointing 9-8 season, Lions GM Brad Holmes still believes the Lions are close to  being an NFL contender.

“I don’t think that we’re that far off. I personally don’t,’’ Holmes said at a season-ending press conference on Thursday. “We have a lot of good players, we have a lot of good young ascending players, we have a really good quarterback, we have the right coach. I do think we’re very close.’’

Holmes has already started an introspection top to bottom of why the Lions came up short and failed to make the playoffs.

“We’ll be looking at everything, but I do not think that this is a deep surgery overhaul,’’ Holmes said. “I don’t think that but obviously there needs to be some adjustments.’’

Holmes answered questions for about 40 minutes. He was short on specifics which is his tendency but seems determined to right the ship which finished 2024 with a 15-2 record.

“Bottom line, for our standards, this was a disappointment,’’ Holmes said. “When we set out for this journey for this season it wasn’t to match last year’s record or exceed last year’s record — it doesn’t really matter what the record is — bottom line is if we’re not in the dance and we’re not competing for a championship then it’s a failure.’’

Plain and simple.

Offensive coordinator John Morton has been fired, but no other coaching changes have been announced at this point. The offense came up short of its goals but this disappointing season obviously wasn’t all on Morton. Injuries, again, played a big role in getting them to play consistently good football.

“It’s a lot of things. We’re going to have to take a long, hard look,’’ Holmes said. “Before I look at anything I’ll look at myself.’’

Five main reasons the Lions lost at the Vikings, killing playoff chances

The Lions’ playoff dreams are just a memory after a 23-10 ugly loss at the Vikings on Christmas.

Detroit  needed to win their two remaining games and have the Packers lose their final two. So much for that. The Lions were a turnover machine and yet even with 6 turnovers starting the fourth quarter they were just behind 13-7.

“Offensively I thought we played hard, but you turn the ball over that many times, that’s what got us,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

Detroit, which has lost 4 of their last 5, dropped to 8-8 and sent the Packers to the playoffs.

It was so ugly for the Lions that the Vikings won by 13 points even though they had just 3 passing yards.

“We hate losing, they hate losing, we do. Look, some of these things that come up, the effort is there but we are not, we’re just a little off and it’s costing us significantly,’’ Campbell said. “There again, too many turnovers, just couldn’t overcome it.’’

Five of the reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: Turnovers. Four fumbles lost and two interceptions. The Vikings scored 13 points on the first  four miscues. Detroit had zero turnovers in the last 4 games and just 8 on the season entering the game. Goff had gone 5 games without an interception. Also, he was sacked five times.

TWO: Again, Detroit could not establish the run. Not surprising, when you consider LT Taylor Decker was out with an illness and Kingsley Eguakun was in at center instead of veteran Graham Glasgow who was on the sideline in a reserve role. This has been a huge issue, it’s a point of emphasis, but whatever the gameplan was it didn’t work. Campbell stuck with it but it didn’t matter. The Lions finished with 68 rushing yards (2.3 yards per carry) while the Vikes had 138.

THREE: Detroit’s defense was playing lights out with seven sacks of Max Brosmer who passed for just 3 net yards. They also pressure the inexperienced quarterback but Minnesota’s run game kept their offense moving.

FOUR: Injuries. Campbell would never use injuries as an excuse but here we are. It matters and on Christmas the inexperienced offensive line just couldn’t keep up.

FIVE: Play calling at times baffling.

UP NEXT: Lions (8-8) at Chicago Bears (11-4), 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4.

Lions Aidan Hutchinson relieved that $180 million extension is a done deal

ALLEN PARK — Lions pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson may have signed a four-year $180 million extension on Wednesday, but on Thursday it was back to work.

“While it’s great news, it’s all Minnesota in my brain,’’ Hutchinson said on Thursday. The Lions face the Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field.

Hutchinson’s deal, with a guarantee of $141 million, will keep him with the Lions through the 2030 season. He was previously signed through 2026.

It’s a dream come true for a hometown kid who played college ball at Michigan.

“I’m really super grateful and ready to focus everything on this season and put that behind me and focus on what’s important,’’ Hutchinson said. He thanked the Fords and the entire organization. 

He left the negotiations to his agent and his parents. He signed the deal on Wednesday but said the highlight was when he heard about the deal.

“I feel like me hearing the news and hearing the offer coming in, to me you get that deep relief that the negotiations are over with,’’ Hutchinson said.   “I was very uninvolved in the process so there wasn’t too much focus. As much as uninvolved as you are, it’s still something that’s there. But now with that not being there, I’m all in.’’

Since he was drafted second overall in 2022, he’s never disappointed. He broke his leg in Week 6 in 2024, but has come back like it never happened, typically playing 93 percent of the defensive snaps in the first seven games

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was asked if he thought of giving Hutchinson, 25, more rest during a game. He suggested the reporter suggest that to Hutch because it wouldn’t go over well.

“If he can handle it, why take anything off him if he’s handling it well,’’ Sheppard said.

In other words, don’t expect to see Hutchinson to get many breathers. So far he has six sacks and 29 quarterback pressures which is second just to Micah Parsons.

“We just gave him half the building so he needs to play 95 percent,’’ Sheppard said with a smile. “He’s a tremendous, tremendous athlete, superior athlete and not by God-gifted talent, I’m talking about hard work and dedication, he’s conditioned his mind and body to do that.’’

UP NEXT: Vikings (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 at Ford Field.)