Breaking down every single Detroit Lions draft-day trade that Brad Holmes has made to see how much success or failure there’s been
Looking back on all of Brad Holmes trades that he has made since 2021 shows us quite a bit of success and minimal failure
We are just nine days away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and as each day goes by, the Lions trading up or down from their 17th pick feels more and more like something that could happen.
Lions GM Brad Holmes has not at all been opposed to making draft-day trades. Some of which can be looked at as “F them picks” moves. Since 2021, he’s made 16 draft-day trades. Let’s take a look at each of them to see how they worked out for the Lions and their trade partner.
2021
Lions got: 113th pick (Derrick Barnes) and 257th pick (Jermar Jefferson)
Browns got: 153rd pick (Tony Fields) and a 2022 fourth-round pick, and they wound up trading away.
The Lions certainly won that one. They walked out with a solid SAM linebacker who has played pretty well and just got a nice brand new contract before the 2025 NFL Draft. Jefferson stuck with the team all the way to 2024. He last played for the Cardinals in 2025.
For the Browns, they got four seasons out of Fields, but he was never a starter there. He’s a free agent now.
2022
Lions got: 12th pick (Jameson Williams) and 46th pick (Josh Paschal)
Vikings got: 32nd pick (Lewis Cine), 34th pick (traded away), and the 66th pick (Brian Asamoah)
The Lions won this one, too. Jameson Williams was a bit of a work in progress, but he is coming off two 1,000-yard seasons and will continue to be a big piece of the offense going forward.
Paschal struggled with injuries quite a bit and was released by the Lions ahead of free agency this year. He never quite worked out. But this deal was more geared towards Williams, anyway.
For the Vikings, Cine did not work at all, and he was released ahead of the 2024 season. Spent time with the Bills and Eagles this year. Asamoah was waived ahead of the 2025 season. The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after the 2025 season.
Lions got: 188th pick (Malcolm Rodriguez) and the 237th pick (Chase Lucas)
Eagles got: 181st pick (Kyron Johnson)
Felt like nothing at the time, but the Lions got Rodrigo out of this one, and that guy wound up starting in 2022. He’s now an important depth piece in Detroit.
Johnson played one season for the Eagles. He’s currently a free agent.
2023
Lions got: 12th pick (Jahmyr Gibbs), 34th pick (Sam LaPorta), and the 168th pick (traded away)
Cardinals got: 6th pick (Paris Johnson) and the 81st pick (traded away)
Maybe the biggest trade the Lions have ever made on draft day. They got two Pro Bowlers out of this move. Two guys who are a major part of their offense and two guys who could very soon be the highest-paid players at both of their positions.
The Cardinals got a starting tackle in Paris Johnson. Everyone won on this deal.
Lions got: 45th pick (Brian Branch)
Packers got: 48th pick (traded away) and the 159th pick (Dontayvion Wicks)
It’s always going to be insane that Branch slipped to the second round and the Lions made the right move to go up and get him. The Packers made the wrong move by not taking him. They just traded Wicks to the Eagles last week.
Lions got: 63rd pick (traded away), 122nd pick (traded away), and the 249th pick (traded away)
Chiefs got: 55th pick (Rashee Rice) and the 194th pick (Keandre Coburn)
The Lions made this move to make moves. You’ll see that pan out here in a minute. The Chiefs got their top receiver out of it. Even if he’s been a total headache for them off the field.
Lions got: 68th pick (Hendon Hooker) and the 139th pick (traded away)
Broncos got: 63rd pick (Marvin Mims) and the 183rd pick (JL Skinner)
This has never made sense to me from the moment it happened. The Lions had their guy in Jared Goff, and if they were going to draft a quarterback, it made sense to draft a younger one with more upside. Hooker was waived ahead of the 2025 season and is now with the Titans.
Mims became a two-time All-Pro return man for Denver. Skinner has been a good special-teams guy for Denver.
Lions got: 96th pick (Brodric Martin)
Cardinals got: 122nd pick (Jon Gaines), 139th pick (Clayton Tune), and the 168th pick (Owen Pappoe)
This one looks bad now because Holmes moved three picks to go up and get a guy who did not work out, and now the Lions have moved on from him. Martin is currently with the Raiders.
For the Cardinals, Gaines is a depth center, Tune is a free agent, and Pappoe is a depth linebacker.
Lions got: 219th pick (Antoine Green) and a 2025 fourth-round pick
Eagles got: D’Andre Swift
Green, unfortunately, suffered a season-ending injury in 2024 when it looked like he might get a shot that year. He’s no longer with the Lions. That fourth-round pick got sent right back to the Eagles in 2024.
Swift spent one year with the Eagles and is now with the Bears.
2024
Lions got: 24th pick (Terrion Arnold) and a 2025 seventh-round pick
Cowboys got: 29th pick (Tyler Guyton) and the 73rd pick (Cooper Beebe)
Solid trade. The Lions moved up and got a starting cornerback who, despite an injury last year, looked to be coming into his own. He’ll be a starter again in 2026.
The Cowboys got the future of their offensive line with Guyton and Beebe. They’ve both taken on starting roles.
Lions got: 126th pick (Giovanni Manu)
Jets got: 2025 third-round pick (Traded away)
To be determined. Everyone knew this would be a project, and so far there’s been growth there, but not at the level Lions fans were hoping for. Right now the ceiling might be as a swing tackle. we’ll see what happens during training camp.
Lions got: 132nd pick (Sione Vaki) and 210th pick (Christian Mahogany)
Eagles got: 164th pick (traded away), 201st pick (traded away), and a 2025 fourth-round pick (Traded Away)
We’ve already seen some dividends come from this one. Vaki was in the Pro Bowl conversation for special-teams players in 2024 and could be in line to be David Montgomery’s replacement at some point. and and now Mahogany is expected to take on a starting role for the Lions again in 2026.
Lions got: 189th pick (Mekhi Wingo)
Texans got: 205th pick (Jawhar Jordan) and 249th pick (LaDarius Henderson)
The move felt like a steal at the time because Wingo was expected to go earlier. Unfortunately Wingo spent much of the 2026 season as a healthy scratch.
Jordan played four games in 2025 and Henderson is now with the Colts.
2025
Lions got: 57th pick (Tate Ratledge) and 230th pick (Dan Jackson)
Broncos got: 60th pick (RJ Harvey) and 130th pick (traded away)
Totally worth it. Ratledge put forth a very good rookie year at right guard and is expected to be one of the better right guards in the NFL before you know it. Jackson got hurt at camp and missed his rookie season. But should get some opportunities in 2026.
For the Bronocs, Harvey wound up being a solid running back for them in his rookie year. He might be their starter in 2026.
Lions got: 70th pick (Isaac TeSlaa)
Jaguars got: 102nd pick (traded away) and two 2026 third-round picks
2026 is going to really show us what this trade meant to the Lions. So far, the reviews should be good for a guy taken to be a WR3. he played well when he got on the field. He should see it a lot more in 2026.
Lions get: 171st pick (Miles Fraizer)
Patriots get: 182nd pick (Andres Boregales) 228th pick (traded away)
The Lions got a do-all offensive lineman who could challange for the starting guard job this year and the Patriots got their starting kicker. Everyone wins.
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