Lions fans have developed a strange theory about Brad Holmes, but his own history says otherwise
Detroit’s GM has already moved on from first-, second- and third-round picks when things didn’t work, and his own comments show he’s willing to admit misses.
There’s a narrative going around Detroit Lions fans lately that Brad Holmes will not cut players he drafted because he refuses to give up on the investment he made, especially if it’s a higher pick. I don’t get where that’s coming from. I honestly think it’s maybe some damage left over from the Matt Millen era, but it doesn’t hold up when you look at the evidence.
Not too long ago, the thing we thought about Holmes was that he was willing to let go of projects. We were writing articles and stories about how great it was. So I decided to take a look at the Lions’ draft picks during Holmes’ tenure, and he’s given up on a ton of these guys.
The high picks Holmes has moved on from
For starters, just a few weeks ago Detroit cut its first-round draft pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. There were extenuating circumstances around that, but the Lions could have done what many other teams would do and just stood pat. They could have refused to give in, stood by the guy, and said it was going to be okay. Look at what Seattle is doing right now. The Seahawks are trying to sign a player when they don’t even know when his trial date is set, and he’s already on the commissioner’s exempt list. Teams will do that. The Lions let their guy go.
Go back to Holmes’ second draft in 2022. Everybody looks at that class and sees Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, and Kerby Joseph. Malcolm Rodriguez. It’s a big draft. But second-round pick Josh Paschal? Holmes let him go. Fifth-round pick James Mitchell? Let him go. James Houston was a guy everybody had so much faith in during his rookie year. Fans thought he was going to be a big star. Let him go. Chase Lucas, a seventh-round pick with a lot of potential, let him go.
Then go to 2023. Hendon Hooker, a third-round pick. When it was clear it wasn’t going to work out after two seasons, the Lions let him go. Brodric Martin, another third-round pick. Same story. Two seasons, didn’t work out, let him go.
What this is really about
I don’t know where this idea comes from. The Lions don’t even have a bunch of guys who aren’t working out right now. You know what we’re really talking about here. This all stems from the fact that I’ve had Giovanni Manu off my 53-man roster projection. I’ve had Levi Onwuzurike off my 53-man roster at times, along with Mekhi Wingo and Sione Vaki occasionally as well.
Lions fans say Brad Holmes is not going to just get rid of Manu. He traded up for him and used a fourth-round pick on him. But again, what about the history of the Lions under Holmes? Manu has practiced one time this summer, and that was the first day of training camp. He’s been on the NFI list ever since. I’m sure there’s an injury settlement on its way. They’re not going to hold on to that guy. I would be shocked if the Lions held on to Manu.
Wingo I could see as a practice squad player. Vaki I could see making the 53. I get it. I would understand if he did. Onwuzurike is another guy on the fringe, kind of on the bubble. Sometimes I think he’s going to make the roster, other times I don’t. But if he doesn’t, I don’t see why Detroit would hold on to him. He’s not going to cost anything, and if they cut him, they’re not losing any dead cap. It’s the easiest cut they could ever make.
Holmes is not the prideful GM fans are making him out to be
People are creating this scenario where Holmes is this incredibly prideful guy who just cannot be wrong. But the Lions have shown over and over again that they are willing to let a player walk if it doesn’t fit what they want to do. It’s not even just draft picks. Last year, they let Za’Darius Smith walk out the door because it didn’t fit their budget. That worked out in the Lions’ favor because he retired and is now attempting a comeback with unclear results.
I think the Millen comparison is where this comes from. Or the William Clay Ford Sr. era. The Lions used to be known for holding on to players forever. Maybe Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn did stuff like that too. But Holmes has been pretty good about letting guys go when it doesn’t work out, and I think he’s going to continue to be that way. I wouldn’t look at him as somebody who’s going to hold on to a guy for pride reasons.
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