Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes met with the media this week and, while he didn’t give away any trade secrets, he did peel back the curtain just a bit on how the team is approaching the 2025 NFL Draft. And if there’s one big takeaway? The Lions are keeping their options wide open.
First off, Holmes made it clear that Detroit could move up or down in the draft — it all depends on how the board falls. He referenced past deals like the one for Jameson Williams, which was a bit more planned, and last year’s move for Terrion Arnold, which came together more on the fly. The key? Being ready when the right opportunity hits.
“We needed everything back then,” Holmes said about his early days as GM. “Now the roster’s stronger, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop being aggressive.”
And don’t expect the Lions to be locked into filling a specific need. Holmes made a point to poke fun at the idea of chasing holes on the depth chart. Drafting for need sounds nice, but he believes building a strong team is about thinking ahead, not just plugging gaps.
“When the season ends, the needs change anyway,” Holmes said. “You start chasing needs, and you might miss out on a guy who could be your future.”
That future-focused mindset is why the Lions aren’t afraid to draft developmental players either. Holmes mentioned Giovanni Manu and Derrick Barnes as examples — guys who weren’t ready-made stars but had the tools to grow. For Holmes, it’s all about picking the right project, not avoiding them altogether.
He also addressed the buzz around receiver depth, especially after bringing top prospect Matthew Golden in for a visit. Does that mean Jameson Williams could be on the move? Not necessarily. Holmes stressed that you can never have too many receivers or corners, especially with how deep those positions run in every draft.
At the end of the day, the Lions are in a solid spot. They’ve built a strong roster, but they’re still hunting for difference-makers — whether that means trading up, down, or grabbing the best long-term talent available.
Brad Holmes Drops Clues on Lions’ Draft Game Plan — And It’s All About Flexibility
