Jaguars' new GM James Gladstone plansto root a lot of what he learned about scouting from Lions GM Brad Holmes into Jacksonville's plans
The Jacksonville Jaguars have begun a new era with a new head coach and young new general manager James Gladstone. The 34-year spent the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams he spent part of that time working with Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes. On Tuesday we got a chance to talk with Gladstone […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars have begun a new era with a new head coach and young new general manager James Gladstone. The 34-year spent the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams he spent part of that time working with Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes.
On Tuesday we got a chance to talk with Gladstone about his past with Holmes at the 2025 NFL Combine. He said Holmes had a big impact on him and part of that impact could be felt in Jacksonville.
"I learned a ton from him about the landscape of scouting from the bottom all the way to the finished product and there is absolutely some things I'll carry forward from him. He's had a lot of success in Detroit and he's leaned into a lot of the things that we've already been preaching as a part of what we'll prioritize in players and make it so that top of mind is intangibles and we'll remain rooted in that moving forward."
Intangibles and culture fit have been a key priority for the Lions since Holmes and Campbell got to Detroit. They're all about it to the point where they refuse to draft outside of that concept. You could have the best player in the world available and Detroit isn't going to go with him if they feel he doesn't fit their mold.
What that means for the Jaguars could be somewhat different, but the main idea is that the Jaguars are likely looking to do something similar in terms of installing a culture and then finding players they feel can best fit that culture over drafting based on ability and talent first.
Going this route has worked for both the Lions and the Rams in recent years, if the Jaguars can put their best foot forward on these ideals, it could work in Jacksonville too.
‘We’re not a needs-based drafting team’ Brad Holmes does not want you to expect the Lions to do anything
I've been covering the Detroit Lions since 2014. I've had to try to figure out three different general managers. Of all three of those guys, there hasn't been one that it seems some media and some fans think they have figured out more than Brad Holmes. Some just think they know what he's going to […]
