Tag: Brad Holmes

Lions draft DT Tyleik Williams of Ohio State in first round

ALLEN PARK — Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams’ versatility and knowledge of the game made him the perfect target for the Lions with the 28th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-3, 334-pound Williams, who played at Ohio State, started 13 games for the 2024 national champions with 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2 1/2 sacks.

“We’ve been watching him for a really long time, he’s played a lot of football there at a very consistent level,’’ Lions GM Brad Holmes said. “He has a lot of traits and qualities that we’re looking for. He’s going to fit right in here like a glove. We spent a lot of time with him in the process leading up to this we were very very impressed.’’

Williams joins a defensive tackle group that includes Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Roy Lopez, Mekhi Wingo and Pat O’Connor. McNeill might not be available to start the season after tearing his ACL in December. His possible absence could provide an opening for Williams to see immediate playing time.

“They definitely explained I could be a key piece of the defense, so it  was definitely in the back of my mind it was definitely a spot I could land,’’ Williams said on a conference call.

Holmes said Willilams reminds him of McNeill who he drafted in the third round in 2021.

“I don’t want to call him a mirror image, but I think he’s a lot like the guy we have now in Alim, in terms of being able to catch an edge, rush with power, have instincts, he’s got quickness, he can counter,’’ Holmes said. “I know his pass rushing stats aren’t off the chart when you watch the tape you see it.’’

The Lions have 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’s second and third rounds are set for Friday at 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will start at noon on Saturday.)

Detroit Lions draft: What GM Brad Holmes will not do

ALLEN PARK — Lions GM Brad Holmes’ draft philosophy has become quite clear during his first four drafts in Detroit.

He’s not going to reach on players just to fill a position.

In his first four drafts he’s moved up more than moving down during the draft process but it just worked that way. He reminded, it takes two teams to make a deal.

Holmes has developed his dos and don’ts. 

“What I won’t do is what I’ve been saying that I won’t do that — I know you guys get frustrated with me not doing is looking at our depth chart like names black-and-white names with no football being played or anything – looking at a depth chart and seeing a position and then saying, ‘Man you’ve got to get that position. A player has to play that position.’”

That said, the biggest gap on the depth chart seems obvious. Certainly Holmes has considered drafting a pass rusher but not necessarily in the first round. It was a position of need after Aidan Hutchinson was knocked out of the season in Week 5 last season.

“You could draft a pass rusher every round, you could, it’s easy,’’ Holmes said. “That’s just like if a coach told me we want a guy who’s 6-4, 250. Getting a guy who’s 6-4, 250 is easy. I don’t know if he’s a good football player, but he’ll be 6-4, 250.

“It’s the same as you can draft a defensive end. If the player playing defensive end is not what we feel is going to be the right guy to really contribute to our football team then what are you guys going to write about that player,’’ Holmes asked.

The GM has adjusted during his Detroit tenure which started with needs at nearly every position. Now that he’s built a playoff-team roster, he still won’t zero in on specific needs because he said he’d rather have a surplus of players that he really likes.

The Lions have the 28th pick in tonight’s 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 tonight, April 24, at 8 p.m. with the first round. The second and third rounds are set for Friday at 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will start at noon on Saturday.)

Lions Brad Holmes preaches patience when it comes to NFL draft

Lions own 28th overall pick, plus 6 in later rounds

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.)