Tag: Brad Holmes

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes sticks with his draft process; it’s the player not the position

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes’ success with his first three NFL drafts has been unquestioned with five Pro Bowl picks. It’s a good haul and one reason why the Lions are legitimately mentioned in the same sentence as the Super Bowl.

So for anyone paying attention, Holmes has had the same philosophy and just tweaked it along the way.

Certainly the Lions have needs at cornerback, edge rusher and offensive guard. It’s not just that Holmes won’t tip his hat about who he will draft with the 29th overall pick next Thursday, it’s that he doesn’t know.

It’s all about the player more than the position. And with the 29th pick, it will be who is still available.

“I think we make sure we’re convicted on every single pick. You guys have heard me say, it’s about the right football player. As long as we’re convicted on the football player then you sleep good at night,’’ Holmes said at a pre-draft press conference on Thursday.

“That’s a lot of work that goes into getting convicted on the right player. We just had 30 visits, medicals … There’s a lot of stuff to get to ‘this is the right guy.’ We’re still looking at tape now,’’ he added.

The process started a year ago to get to this point. Holmes opened the presser thanking everyone on his scouting team along with coach Dan Campbell and the coaching staff.

“It’s a lot that gets to that conviction as long as Dan and I are really aligned and convicted and we’re so ‘this guy fits,’’’ Holmes said.

He said he was recently asked about drafting an outside corner with the first of the Lions’ eight picks.

“No, we draft the right football player we’re convicted on. If the outside corner is the right football player we’re convicted on then we would take that player. We don’t really get anchored on positions, we don’t really get anchored on windows,’’ Holmes said.

“There’s only one draft a year, there’s a lot of work that goes into it, that’s our recipe we kind of look for guys we’re convicted on that are right fits for us. We don’t get into the premium positions. You can pick another position that doesn’t mean the guy is the right fit,’’ Holmes said.

You get the drift. Media and fans can and will question his picks through the three-day process. It’s a rite of spring. But know this, he only drafts guys who he’s convinced are the right fit.

“I know you were asking after the last draft how come you guys didn’t pick another position No, it’s not another position, it’s who, which player, you don’t just pick whatever the premium position is, you don’t just pick that player because he plays that position, no he has to be the right football player and that’s what we’ve stuck to,’’ Holmes said. “It’s worked so far.’’

No argument here.

Holmes certainly talks about how the process has evolved in four years. When he arrived in Detroit, there were needs all over the roster.

“So we could go for the most talented guy, the guy that really fit the most. We could’ve gone in so many directions, That resulted in a lot of young players having to play early and got a lot of experience,’’ Holmes said.

He beefed up the roster in free agency — it was easier with free agents wanting to play for Campbell and the Lions.

“Really with the way the roster is now you have more flexibility to not be anchored into a need (at the draft). We try to do the best we can in free agency in terms of plugging holes and pulling out the depth chart and doing all those things,’’ Holmes said. “And we feel that we did a great job in free agency and we’re in position to go wherever we want to go. … We’ve always said the best player, but it’s even more emphasized now.’’

(The NFL draft, which will take place in Detroit, starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, with the first round. Rounds 2-3 begin at 7 p.m.. on Apri 26 and winds up starting at noon on April 27.)

Lions report for offseason workouts as defending division champs with higher expectations

ALLEN PARK — When the Lions reported for offseason workouts this week, it was as defending NFC North champs. While that’s something quite new, the goal remains the same.

They ended last season one win short of making it to the Super Bowl. Certainly that provides a different approach to the offseason.

“I think we all know what the goal is, it’s always been the goal. I don’t think it was not the goal last year,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said on Tuesday. “I think we got a chance to taste it last year so you get to see what it feels like but that’s the goal, and this year it’s absolutely the goal.’’

After winning two playoff games, ending a decades-long drought, many of the same players are back from a year ago. Expectations and standards will rise.

“Internally we’re going to do the same thing we’ve been doing: try to raise our internal expectations and standards. Even better, Dan (Campbell) put it great last year how much harder it’s going to be,’’ Goff said. “We know that it’s going to be harder, people are going to be gunning for us and it’s going to be at first to defend our division title that’s No. 1 and then see where we can go from there. Holding that trophy at the end of the year only one team gets to do it and that’s our goal.’’

Left tackle Taylor Decker, who has recovered from offseason foot/ankle surgery, said he couldn’t even watch the Super Bowl like he usually does.

“I think I watched a quarter, then I was disinterested. I felt like we matched up well with anybody we were going to play with. It definitely hurts and was a disappointment especially because as special of a year as it was to end and go home early,’’ Decker said on Tuesday.

“It was a bummer for sure, but stuff like that’s going to happen, you’re not going to win every single game in a blowout, I think we’ll be better for it and learn some things for it but I don’t think that’s going to define our approach,’’ Decker added.

The team is back for individual workouts this week with no coaching allowed. So they have not had a welcome-back speech from Campbell yet. So there’s been no outward talk about their goals, it’s mostly just understood.

“Obviously how the game ended was a disappointment for us especially because I think we showed throughout the season last year that we belonged in that position, it wasn’t a fluke,’’ Decker said. “They were a better team that day which was a disappointment for us. I don’t think that’s going to change our mindset or how we feel about ourselves that we came up short.. Moving forward we have bigger goals ahead of us, I don’t think that one moment is going to define how we move forward with our mindset and approach.’’

Tight end Brock Wright said they’ve been talking that the motto is “it takes more” and explains it as a holistic approach starting at the top with GM Brad Holmes and Campbell.

“So I think everybody will have to step up their game. (Last year) brings confidence, but I think everybody on our team should be confident knowing that we have the experience of being there and looking forward to carrying that over to next year,’’ Wright said.

One more thing: New Lions uniforms will be unveiled on Thursday night to season-ticket holders at Ford Field. Wright said he thinks they’re cool, but couldn’t share more info. Players are sworn to secrecy.

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Detroit Lions add edge rusher Marcus Davenport to help boost defense

He knew Dan Campbell while with the Saints

ALLEN PARK — Edge rusher Marcus Davenport knows Lions coach Dan Campbell from their days with the New Orleans Saints. It may be what helped to steer him in the direction of Detroit.

Davenport signed a one-year deal with the Lions this week that has a maximum value of $10.5 million with a base of $6.5 million.

He described his game as violent and physical.

“But that’s even something I want to change. I want to adapt, I want to learn. I was told recently that there’s a lot of young guys that can learn from me and my first thought was we’ve got a lot of guys I can learn from,’’ said Davenport who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round in 2018 and played there for the last five seasons. Last year he signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, but his season ended when he suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 6.

Davenport recalled a story about Campbell from the Covid era when he was elevated to interim coach while coach Sean Payton was ill.

“He gave a speech. I remember it was the first time in a long time somebody gave a speech and my heart was ‘Yeah! That’s what we’re doing!’ I just remember his energy. I don’t want to say not many people have the same kind of passion, but it takes someone that was there to actually understand,’’ Davenport said at a Thursday press conference. “To be able to see him in this position I’d like to be able to help with that.”

The speech?

“It wasn’t like biting knee caps, it was something along the lines that we have grit, that’s the message I took away. Grit, he was being serious,’’ said Davenport who is 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds.

While he knew Campbell, he did his due diligence to learn about Lions GM Brad Holmes.

“He told me something nice, it made me smile,’’ Davenport said. “He said, ‘I watched your games and we can tell you’re one of those guys that really appreciates the game and puts it out there. You’re a physical player.’ He even said in the limited games you played,’’ Davenport said. “After hearing that it helped me feel like I made the right decision. It’s always nice to have some belief especially when I haven’t been able to prove everybody right.’’

Davenport, 27, also knows linebacker Alex Anzalone, a leader on the Lions defense, from their days with the Saints.

“Yeah you know he’s an alpha now. He’s always been a good dude, I didn’t expect nothing less,’’ Davenport said. I’m just happy to see him running around making plays and getting excited.’’