Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes sends message to the rest of the NFL
The Detroit Lions have swagger. And it starts with general manager Brad Holmes. The former Los Angeles Rams scout made that much clear this weekend during the 2023 NFL Draft. After finishing 9-8 last season and narrowly missing the playoffs in head coach Dan Campbell's second season leading the franchise, the Lions are poised to […]
The Detroit Lions have swagger.
And it starts with general manager Brad Holmes.
The former Los Angeles Rams scout made that much clear this weekend during the 2023 NFL Draft.
After finishing 9-8 last season and narrowly missing the playoffs in head coach Dan Campbell's second season leading the franchise, the Lions are poised to be one of the "trendy" teams in 2023.
Oftentimes, the hype doesn't pan out for the "trendy" teams, but I wouldn't expect that to be the case with the Lions.
Detroit has created a winning culture under Holmes and Campbell. The franchise hasn't been very successful over the last 30 years (the Lions haven't won the NFC North since 1993), but that's not going to impact Detroit's future success.
Holmes made sure this weekend that the rest of the NFL knows that the Lions are operating with winning in mind. And it's not just lip service — there's conviction behind Homes' words.
"We don’t draft scared, we don’t play scared," said Holmes while explaining the decision to draft Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. "With Jahmyr Gibbs, that’s the guy we loved.”
The Minnesota Vikings will probably be viewed as the favorites in the NFC North in 2023. But in Detroit, the Lions view themselves as the favorites. And anyone who thinks Detroit will quickly fade hasn't been paying attention. Holmes has put together a great roster (and there's still room for improvement, which should be exciting for Lions fans) that's ready to compete for a division title and make a deep playoff run.
Detroit is here to stay for the long haul. What better time than now to change the narrative of one of the NFL's most historic franchises?
