By Blessing 
Five drafts have now come and gone under Brad Holmes’ leadership as the Lions’ general manager, and one thing remains crystal clear: Holmes doesn’t care about your draft board—or anyone else’s, for that matter. He’s sticking to his blueprint, building Detroit’s roster according to his own vision, not to satisfy fans, media, or the so-called draft experts.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, Holmes and the Lions held seven picks. By the end of the weekend, they walked away with seven new players after executing three trades along the way. That brings Holmes’ career total to 16 draft-day trades over his five years running Detroit’s personnel decisions.
This year, Holmes was aggressive again, moving up the board three times. Twice, it happened on Day 2—first from pick No. 60 to No. 57, and then from No. 102 to No. 70. He wasn’t done, though, climbing again on Day 3 from No. 182 to No. 171.
Two of those trade-ups helped fortify Detroit’s offensive line. Holmes dipped into the SEC talent pool, selecting Georgia guard Tate Ratledge at No. 57 and LSU’s Miles Frazier at No. 171. Both moves earned widespread praise—and rightly so.
Ratledge and Frazier bring serious competition to Detroit’s interior offensive line, joining veterans like Graham Glasgow and rising second-year player Christian Mahogany. In fact, don’t be surprised if Ratledge makes a strong push during training camp to replace Kevin Zeitler at right guard.
Those two picks felt logical and well-calculated. However, Holmes’ selection at No. 70 raised some eyebrows. After moving up a whopping 32 spots—and giving up two 2026 third-rounders—Holmes chose Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
TeSlaa, who began his college career at Hillsdale College and grew up in Hudsonville, Michigan, was largely projected as a Day 3 prospect. His draft slot and the assets sacrificed to grab him left many scratching their heads.
No doubt, TeSlaa has intriguing traits. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 214 pounds, he boasts top-tier athleticism. His Next Gen Stats athleticism score of 96 at the 2025 NFL Combine ranked first among all wideouts. There’s certainly a possibility he grows into a solid contributor down the road. But it’s fair to question whether investing that much draft capital for a player likely to start the year as a No. 4 receiver was worth it.
Another head-scratcher? Holmes’ decision to wait until the sixth round, pick No. 196, to address the EDGE position. By that point, several promising pass rushers—including Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College), Mike Green (Marshall), Josaiah Stewart (Michigan), and Jack Sawyer (Ohio State)—were already off the board.
Instead, Holmes selected Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein, a player with an inspiring backstory. Hassanein, the first Egyptian-born player ever drafted into the NFL, won over reporters during his first media session by proclaiming he’s willing to “die on the football field” for Dan Campbell and the Lions. Turn on his tape, and you’ll immediately see his violent play style and non-stop motor.
Still, Hassanein remains raw. He only began playing organized football in 2019 and must refine his tackling and pass-rush technique before he can be counted on as a consistent presence on the edge. For now, Detroit’s depth behind Aidan Hutchinson remains shaky, especially with veteran Marcus Davenport’s injury history. Until the Lions land another proven pass rusher, their Super Bowl ambitions could remain just out of reach.
That said, Holmes didn’t leave Green Bay empty-handed. He made a solid first-round move by taking Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams at No. 28. Williams, known for his run-stuffing prowess, could immediately fill the gap left by Alim McNeill, who’s rehabbing from a torn ACL. Long-term, Williams has the tools to develop into a disruptive three-technique force.
At the end of the day, Holmes remains unapologetically true to himself. He’s not concerned about public opinion. He drafts the players he believes best fit Detroit’s identity, regardless of perceived value. And frankly, he’s earned the right to trust his instincts.
Look back at his earlier first-round choices: a wide receiver (Jameson Williams, No. 12 overall in 2022), a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs, No. 12 overall in 2023), and a linebacker (Jack Campbell, No. 18 overall in 2023). Most GMs would have shied away from those picks at those spots. But Holmes didn’t—and those players became major contributors to a Lions team that captured back-to-back NFC North titles.
Of course, no GM is above criticism, and Holmes is no exception. Time will tell if his 2025 class ultimately delivers. But today isn’t the day to pass judgment. Holmes has a vision for Detroit—and for now, there’s little reason not to believe he knows exactly what he’s doing.