Brad Holmes said that while his draft process has evolved in recent years, one thing that has not changed is what he sees on film.
Another – and this is huge – is that the Lions GM drafts the best player available. This is not breaking news, it’s been his process entering his sixth draft in Detroit.
While certainly there appear to be roster needs, that does not sway him or how staff.
“I always think because like I’ve always said the reason we take the best player available approach is because there is only one draft and the roster is going to change every single year. Every single year — new needs, contracts are going to expire , things are going to happen,’’ Holmes said in a pre-draft presser on Monday. “So what may not seem as immediate — I need this right now — that may not be the case for the next year.
“That’s been our approach on that. There have been times when it lines up maybe the best player is a perceived need and it lines up that way. It’s lined up that way in the past but that’s not always the case,’’ Holmes added.
The Lions have the 17th overall pick along with eight other picks in the NFL draft which runs April 23-25.
While a year ago, drafting an EDGE rusher seemed like a no-brainer but Holmes did not make it happen. He never apologized. A year later, still there’s a perceived need there but that doesn’t mean Holmes will draft one this year either.
He will not reach for a player of a certain position.
“You can’t take a player that you’re not fired up about because he plays a certain position. And the reason you weren’t fired up about him shows that on the field and that’s why you had reservations for him,’’ Holmes said. “So now you have the double-whammy.’’
He will only draft players he is excited about and he won’t tip his hand. It’s the Holmes Way.
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