Brad Holmes Draft Fact Check: Spoiler Alert--Most of It Is Good!

[Just Want A Title]

I have read a lot of inputs in different threads about the Lions drafting, especially this years draft class. Some of it is polite.  Some of it looks like extremely unwarranted Brad Holmes bashing.  Full disclosure:  I have a real problem with the some of the arm-chair GMs that are talking down the Lions.  So lets take a look at what he started with and what he has done:

Legitimate quality starters:  Matthew Stafford, Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow and Tracy Walker.  

This team was largely bereft of talent.  Stafford was a top-shelf QB but aging.  Tracy Walker is now our #3 Safety.

What he has done in three years:

1.  Had the backbone to trade Matthew Stafford and got pretty good value that gave the Lions the draft capital to start moving in the right direction

2.  Hired Dan Campbell as Head Coach

3.  Fixed the salary cap mess that the previous regime left behind

4.  Held on the only legitimate talent we had and kicked the rest to the curb.

5. Brought in enough talent transform the Lions from perennial doormat/laughing stock to a team that is poised to win the NFC North

First Draft:

Round 1, Pick 7 — OT Penei Sewell:  Franchise Cornstone/Pro Bowler

Round 2, Pick 9 (41) — DT Levi Onwuzurike:  TBD but not looking great

Round 3, Pick 8 (72) — DT Alim McNeill:  NFL Starter and trending higher

Round 3, Pick 38 (101) — CB Ifeatu Melifonwu:  NFL Starter

Round 4, Pick 7 (112) — WR Amon-Ra St. Brown:  Franchise Cornerstone/Pro Bowler

Round 4, Pick 8 (113) — LB Derrick Barnes:  NFL starter and trending higher

Round 7, Pick 30 (257) — RB Jermar Jefferson:  Didn't work out

Second Draft:

Round 1, Pick 2 — EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan:  Franchise Cornerstone/Pro Bowler

Round 1, Pick 12 — WR Jameson Williams, Alabama:  TBD w/high upside

Round 2, Pick 46 overall — EDGE Josh Paschal, Kentucky:  TBD

Round 3, Pick 97 overall — S Kerby Joseph, Illinois:  NFL Starter and trending higher

Round 5, Pick 177 overall — TE James Mitchell, Virginia Tech:  TBD

Round 6, Pick 188 overall — LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State:  Special Teams Player/Depth LB

Round 6, Pick 217 overall — EDGE James Houston, Jackson State:  Rotational Pass Rush Specialist 

Round 7, Pick 237 overall — CB Chase Lucas, Arizona State:  High level Special Teams Player

Third Draft-Based on 4 Games of Evaluation:

Round 1, Pick 12 — RB Jahmyr Gibbs:  TBD but trending towards quality NFL starter

Round 1, Pick 18 — LB Jack Campbell:  TBD but trending towards quality NFL starter

Round 2, Pick 34 overall — TE Sam LaPorta: Starting TE w/Pro Bowl Potential

Round 2, Pick 45 overall — DB Brian Branch:  Starting Nickel CB/S w/Pro Bowl Potential

Round 3, Pick 68 overall — QB Hendon Hooker:  Being developed as future QB#1, quality back-up QB

Round 3, Pick 96 overall — DT Brodric Martin:  TBD w/high upside

Round 5, Pick 152 overall — OL Colby Sorsdal:  Back-up RG possible future starter

Round 7, Pick 219 overall — WR Antoine Green:  Rotational WR w/#3 or #4 potential

Notable Free Agents:  UDFAs:  Brock Wright, Jerry Jacobs, Isaiah Buggs, Cam Sutton, John Cominsky, Alex Anzalone, David Montgomery, Benito Jones

Players acquired by other trades:  Michael Brockers (Year 1), Trinity Benson (Year 1)

We may not agree with all of his moves but I can't think of a GM who has done a better job of running an NFL team in the last three years than Brad Holmes.  He hired Dan Campbell who has become a very good head coach.  He fixed our salary cap mess while raising the talent level on our team to the point where we are in a position to win the division.  His free agent signings have been good players on team-friendly contracts.  He has drafted better than any Lions GM that I can recall.  It isn't an exaggeration to say that he has drafted as well or better than any GM in NFL in the last three years.  More importantly, he has this team set up to go on a multi-year run of high-level play without mortgaging its future.  Before we start down the rabbit-hole of "we should have...." maybe we should consider the fact Brad Holmes basically rescued this franchise.  He deserves a lot more respect and courtesy than he is getting right now.  Thoughts?

[detfan782004]

I honestly think it has a lot more to do with who he has surrounded himself with.

Chris Spielman deserves so much credit and would love to see him GM somewhere 

[Just Want A Title]

6 minutes ago, detfan782004 said:

I honestly think it has a lot more to do with who he has surrounded himself with.

Chris Spielman deserves so much credit and would love to see him GM somewhere 

Are you serious with that?  That is is exactly what I am talking about.  The fact that he built a competent staff shows that he understands how to lead.  Chris Spielman does a lot for the Lions but he doesn't run the draft and he doesn't manage the salary cap.  After enduring Matt Millen, Martin Mayhew and Bob Quin you are telling me that Chris Speilman is who helped rebuild our roster?

Edited October 4, 2023 by Just Want A Title

[detfan782004]

3 minutes ago, Just Want A Title said:

Are you serious with that?  That is is exactly what I am talking about.  The fact that he built a competent staff shows that he understands how to lead.  Chris Spielman does a lot for the Lions but he doesn't run the draft and he doesn't manage the salary cap.  After enduring Matt Millen, Martin Mayhew and Bob Quin you are telling me that Chris Speilman is who helped rebuild our roster?

I said Spielman deserves so mech credit. The GM isn't out there scouting either. 
 

im saying his drafting is based on people around him in which he has done a good job.

I never said the GM isn't doing a good job. 

 

[detfan782004]

The scouting department changed so much once Spielman entered the scouting area of this Franchise. He also does deal with salary cap when advising the President and CEO.

He was in on hiring Holmes and Campbell.

[Just Want A Title]

13 minutes ago, detfan782004 said:

I honestly think it has a lot more to do with who he has surrounded himself with.

Chris Spielman deserves so much credit and would love to see him GM somewhere 

Read the first line of your post.  You basically said that it isn't Brad Holmes it is everyone else.  Then you followed it up with saying Chris Spielman deserves so much credit.  That is really hard to defend given the drastic improvement with that the Lions have made during the tenure of Brad Holmes.

[LionArkie]

31 minutes ago, Just Want A Title said:

I have read a lot of inputs in different threads about the Lions drafting, especially this years draft class. Some of it is polite.  Some of it looks like extremely unwarranted Brad Holmes bashing.  Full disclosure:  I have a real problem with the some of the arm-chair GMs that are talking down the Lions.  So lets take a look at what he started with and what he has done:

Legitimate quality starters:  Matthew Stafford, Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow and Tracy Walker.  

This team was largely bereft of talent.  Stafford was a top-shelf QB but aging.  Tracy Walker is now our #3 Safety.

What he has done in three years:

1.  Had the backbone to trade Matthew Stafford and got pretty good value that gave the Lions the draft capital to start moving in the right direction

2.  Hired Dan Campbell as Head Coach

3.  Fixed the salary cap mess that the previous regime left behind

4.  Held on the only legitimate talent we had and kicked the rest to the curb.

5. Brought in enough talent transform the Lions from perennial doormat/laughing stock to a team that is poised to win the NFC North

First Draft:

Round 1, Pick 7 — OT Penei Sewell:  Franchise Cornstone/Pro Bowler

Round 2, Pick 9 (41) — DT Levi Onwuzurike:  TBD but not looking great

Round 3, Pick 8 (72) — DT Alim McNeill:  NFL Starter and trending higher

Round 3, Pick 38 (101) — CB Ifeatu Melifonwu:  NFL Starter

Round 4, Pick 7 (112) — WR Amon-Ra St. Brown:  Franchise Cornerstone/Pro Bowler

Round 4, Pick 8 (113) — LB Derrick Barnes:  NFL starter and trending higher

Round 7, Pick 30 (257) — RB Jermar Jefferson:  Didn't work out

Second Draft:

Round 1, Pick 2 — EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan:  Franchise Cornerstone/Pro Bowler

Round 1, Pick 12 — WR Jameson Williams, Alabama:  TBD w/high upside

Round 2, Pick 46 overall — EDGE Josh Paschal, Kentucky:  TBD

Round 3, Pick 97 overall — S Kerby Joseph, Illinois:  NFL Starter and trending higher

Round 5, Pick 177 overall — TE James Mitchell, Virginia Tech:  TBD

Round 6, Pick 188 overall — LB Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State:  Special Teams Player/Depth LB

Round 6, Pick 217 overall — EDGE James Houston, Jackson State:  Rotational Pass Rush Specialist 

Round 7, Pick 237 overall — CB Chase Lucas, Arizona State:  High level Special Teams Player

Third Draft-Based on 4 Games of Evaluation:

Round 1, Pick 12 — RB Jahmyr Gibbs:  TBD but trending towards quality NFL starter

Round 1, Pick 18 — LB Jack Campbell:  TBD but trending towards quality NFL starter

Round 2, Pick 34 overall — TE Sam LaPorta: Starting TE w/Pro Bowl Potential

Round 2, Pick 45 overall — DB Brian Branch:  Starting Nickel CB/S w/Pro Bowl Potential

Round 3, Pick 68 overall — QB Hendon Hooker:  Being developed as future QB#1, quality back-up QB

Round 3, Pick 96 overall — DT Brodric Martin:  TBD w/high upside

Round 5, Pick 152 overall — OL Colby Sorsdal:  Back-up RG possible future starter

Round 7, Pick 219 overall — WR Antoine Green:  Rotational WR w/#3 or #4 potential

Notable Free Agents:  UDFAs:  Brock Wright, Jerry Jacobs, Isaiah Buggs, Cam Sutton, John Cominsky, Alex Anzalone, David Montgomery, Benito Jones

Players acquired by other trades:  Michael Brockers (Year 1), Trinity Benson (Year 1)

We may not agree with all of his moves but I can't think of a GM who has done a better job of running an NFL team in the last three years than Brad Holmes.  He hired Dan Campbell who has become a very good head coach.  He fixed our salary cap mess while raising the talent level on our team to the point where we are in a position to win the division.  His free agent signings have been good players on team-friendly contracts.  He has drafted better than any Lions GM that I can recall.  It isn't an exaggeration to say that he has drafted as well or better than any GM in NFL in the last three years.  More importantly, he has this team set up to go on a multi-year run of high-level play without mortgaging its future.  Before we start down the rabbit-hole of "we should have...." maybe we should consider the fact Brad Holmes basically rescued this franchise.  He deserves a lot more respect and courtesy than he is getting right now.  Thoughts?

To me, this comes off as a passive aggressive post. Maybe that’s not your  intent, but following recent posts that’s how this strikes me.

I don’t think anyone in here has disrespected him. In fact with every criticism I’ve seen, I’ve seen that person say his whole body of work is good.

I just don’t think every body has to say every single thing he has done has been a great decision. As much as you don’t appreciate arm chair GMs, not everyone appreciates complete sold out fan boys and might have a difference of opinion.

To each their own and we can agree to disagree. I have the utmost respect for the posters in here. And we can all agree that we are passionate fans who want to see this team win. And we are very close in doing that. And the whole organization deserves credit for this, from Sheila on down.

in the meantime, I’ll continue being an armchair gm.

[Just Want A Title]

1 hour ago, LionArkie said:

To me, this comes off as a passive aggressive post. Maybe that’s not your  intent, but following recent posts that’s how this strikes me.

I don’t think anyone in here has disrespected him. In fact with every criticism I’ve seen, I’ve seen that person say his whole body of work is good.

I just don’t think every body has to say every single thing he has done has been a great decision. As much as you don’t appreciate arm chair GMs, not everyone appreciates complete sold out fan boys and might have a difference of opinion.

To each their own and we can agree to disagree. I have the utmost respect for the posters in here. And we can all agree that we are passionate fans who want to see this team win. And we are very close in doing that. And the whole organization deserves credit for this, from Sheila on down.

in the meantime, I’ll continue being an armchair gm.

Pointing out the fact that people are calling for draft re-do's after 4-games is kind of short-sighted isn't passive aggressive.  It is calling out counter productive arguements.  It is especially true with respect to this coaching staff.  They may take their time but they put the players on the field who they think will help the team.  I am pretty objective in my critiques of the Lions.  I was panned for my criticisms of the Aidan Hutchinson and the D-Line in Week 1 even when it wasn't considered a "problem"-until it was in Week 2.  No using the term "fanboy" sounds passive aggressive to me.

Edited October 4, 2023 by Just Want A Title

[LionArkie]

Gotcha “sick of armchair gms” is ok but “fanboy” not ok. I guess it depends on which end of the finger pointing up you are on. But it’s your post, so have at it.

And yes you are generally objective about the team for the most part. Just not towards certain posters which you literally declare in your post. But yeah, not passive aggressive at all.

[Louis Friend]

While I agree with most of this, Brad Holmes did not hire Campbell. Campbell and Holmes were hired simultaneously by Sheila, Rod Wood, Mike Disner and Chris Spielman. There was actual discussion about the Lions not allowing the new GM to hire his own HC. While Holmes and Campbell have worked masterfully together, let’s not rewrite history. 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Louis Friend

[nagahide13]

Holmes is great. Who's bashing?

[detfan782004]

11 hours ago, Just Want A Title said:

Read the first line of your post.  You basically said that it isn't Brad Holmes it is everyone else.  Then you followed it up with saying Chris Spielman deserves so much credit.  That is really hard to defend given the drastic improvement with that the Lions have made during the tenure of Brad Holmes.

Well Spielman helped hire Holmes. So yea he does deserve so much credit 

[detfan782004]

10 hours ago, nagahide13 said:

Holmes is great. Who's bashing?

Right. Me saying it's more to do with who he is surrounding himself with is giving credit to him for being able to surround himself with good people.

Part of many GMs failures is not hiring the right people around them to help ensure success 

Edited October 4, 2023 by detfan782004

[detfan782004]

10 hours ago, Louis Friend said:

While I agree with most of this, Brad Holmes did not hire Campbell. Campbell and Holmes were hired simultaneously by Sheila, Rod Wood, Mike Disner and Chris Spielman. There was actual discussion about the Lions not allowing the new GM to hire his own HC. While Holmes and Campbell have worked masterfully together, let’s not rewrite history. 

Right. This is why I was touting Spielman. 
 

He has been so instrumental to this turn around 

[LionArkie]

2 minutes ago, detfan782004 said:

Right. This is why I was touting Spielman. 
 

He has been so instrumental to this turn around 

I think the whole organization deserves a lot of credit. I also think you need to give Sheila a lot of credit. She went out and reorganized how things were done. I don't think she is really the offspring of WCF, lol.

I remember not liking the hiring of DC before the GM as I felt the GM was going to be unnecessarily tied to a hire that wasn't his. I also questioned how they would work together as it wasn't his guy. This has proven me way wrong over the last three years. I also think by doing this it allowed not all the pressure to be put on Holmes which helps a lot. I think a lot of times the GM, especially a new one, feels responsible for the end product. To me, and I could be way off on this, it seems like they have balanced it out better and created a work environment for everyone to succeed.