Detroit Lions Draft Mystery: Is Brad Holmes Hiding a Surprise at Pick 17?

Something unusual is happening around the Lions as the NFL Draft gets closer. With Detroit nearing the end of its top-30 visits, not one reported visitor has surfaced, and the team even canceled its local pro day.

That has pushed more attention onto Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions pick 17. When a front office that usually gives away at least a few clues goes completely dark, fans start wondering if a smoke screen is in play or if a real surprise is coming at No. 17 overall. This mystery has become a staple of every recent mock draft.

Key Takeaways

• The Detroit Lions’ unprecedented pre-draft silence (no leaked top-30 visits, canceled local pro day) suggests Brad Holmes is guarding a potential surprise at pick 17, fueling mock draft mysteries.
• Holmes keeps all options open: stay put for a tackle like Blake Miller, trade down to snag a third-round pick while grabbing OT or edge value, or even jump up aggressively like past moves for Jameson Williams or Terrion Arnold.
• As NFC North contenders, the Lions need to reload their offensive line around their start RT Penei Sewell, prioritizing depth in a draft class strong on tackles, edges, and versatile DBs rather than blue-chip stars.
• Key names at 17 include Blake Miller (young, athletic Clemson OT), Kadyn Proctor, and interior Vega Ioane, with Day 2 edges like Illinois’ bursty rusher fitting opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
• No third-round pick makes trading down appealing per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, maximizing value if multiple OTs like Caleb Lomu or Monroe Freeling remain available.

The Lions’ pre-draft silence feels different this year

No leaked top-30 visits, no local pro day, no breadcrumbs

Every NFL team gets 30 pre-draft visits. Those names almost always leak. Agents talk, families post, reporters hear something, and fans piece it together. In Detroit’s case, that trail has gone cold.

Matt Dery pointed out that he searched for names and came up empty, including checking reporting around the team from outlets such as A to Z Sports. That is unusual on its own. It gets stranger when you add in the canceled local pro day.

Holmes said the local workout was scrapped because of scheduling. Still, it stood out. That event usually brings in players from schools like Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Albion, Alma, and Grand Valley.

The Lions were last publicly visible at the NFL Combine before going dark on these details. Dery also noted that Brad Holmes stayed back in Detroit instead of attending the league meetings, a move that reflects tight alignment between the front office and coaching staff like Dan Campbell. That choice added to the sense that the Lions are locked in on this draft and guarding every detail as a core part of their draft strategy.

For a team this close to the draft, the lack of leaks is the story.

Dery said he has been doing pre-draft shows since 2017 and cannot remember a cycle this quiet. That matters because the Lions have not just hidden one visit or one plan. They have hidden almost all of it.

Brad Holmes has left room for almost any move at pick 17

The Lions could stay put, trade down, or make another aggressive jump

Holmes did not shut many doors in his pre-draft comments. He even said there is a chance Detroit does not need to draft an offensive tackle or an edge rusher, citing players like Larry Borom and D.J. Wonnum already on the roster.

At the same time, he did not rule out an aggressive move up the board. Dery framed that as the old “F them picks” option, which fits Holmes’ track record. He has moved around the board before for players he loves, including Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Terrion Arnold.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pushed the other way. He argued that Detroit should consider trading down from the Detroit Lions pick 17, adding back a third-round pick while still staying in range for a starter at offensive tackle or edge. According to Pro Football Focus draft value charts, such a trade down would maximize the value of their first-round pick at No. 17 overall.

“Dropping down a few spots and getting a third-round pick back would be the ideal scenario for Brad Holmes.”

Detroit’s draft stash helps explain that idea:

That gives the Lions nine picks overall, but no selection in Round 3. Barnwell also tied the long view into his argument, with extensions likely coming for players such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Jack Campbell, and Brian Branch.

Dery sees a trade-down path if multiple offensive tackles Detroit likes are still there at 17. If Kadyn Proctor, Caleb Lomu, and Monroe Freeling are all on the board, Holmes could slide back, pick up extra value, and still land one of them. Dery even floated a quarterback angle, with Ty Simpson as a possible trigger for a team wanting to move up.

Jon Ledyard sees a contender that needs to reload, not rebuild

Detroit still has the talent to win the division

Jon Ledyard of Auds and Analytics joined the show and gave a measured view of where the Lions sit. He still sees Detroit as a real NFC North contender, even with the division getting tougher.

He pointed to Green Bay as a strong rival and noted that Minnesota stayed competitive despite poor quarterback play. On top of that, the whole division is well coached, which raises the week-to-week challenge.

Still, Ledyard does not see a team slipping into a rebuild. He sees a roster that needs to reload around its core, including pillars like Penei Sewell at right tackle, Taylor Decker at left tackle, and Aidan Hutchinson on defense.

The biggest issue, in his view, is the offensive line. Detroit has dealt with age and retirement up front, and that unit is central to how the offense works with Jared Goff. When the offensive line delivers strong run blocking and pass protection, Goff can make the whole operation look sharper. Therefore, getting that group right again is a must.

Depth matters as much as star power

Ledyard liked several of Detroit’s quieter offseason additions. He mentioned Cade Mays as a strong pickup, called Roger McCreary an under-the-radar addition, and said Christian Izien could help because of his flexibility.

That versatility stood out in Tampa Bay. Izien has experience in the slot, outside, and at safety. He is not a perfect starter at any one spot, but a player who can cover several jobs becomes useful when injuries hit.

Ledyard also mentioned Avonte Maddox as another smaller defensive back with multi-spot value. That matters because he sees health, especially in the secondary, as one of Detroit’s biggest swing factors. He pointed to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph as a major storyline after injuries affected the defense.

Ledyard’s view of the draft matched that roster picture. He does not think this class is loaded with blue-chip stars at the top. He does think it has depth, and that helps teams like Detroit more than teams trying to find a franchise savior.

The names to watch for the Lions at 17 and 50

Blake Miller may be the cleanest fit at tackle

Holmes says he leans best player available, and Dery raised that idea to its extreme by joking that even a tight end like Kenyon Sadiq could be in play if Detroit saw him as the best talent left. That would make fans lose their minds, but it also fits Holmes’ history of trusting his board.

Ledyard’s favorite fit for Detroit at 17 is Blake Miller of Clemson. He thinks Miller is more of a Lions-type tackle than people assume. The case is simple: Miller is young, tested like a top athlete with the power handling of those nasty Georgia linemen, and already has around 54 career starts. Ledyard also loves the way he finishes blocks against top pass rushers.

There is more debate around Kadyn Proctor from Alabama. Daniel Jeremiah has linked the Alabama tackle strongly to Detroit, but Ledyard sees more guard traits there and is less sold on Kadyn Proctor as a plug-and-play tackle.

Then there is Vega Ioane, the nasty interior blocker Ledyard called one of the best offensive linemen in the class. If he somehow slides to 17, the value would be hard to ignore, even if he would not solve the right tackle issue by himself. Ledyard also said the tackle depth later in the draft gives Detroit more flexibility, with names such as Austin Barber, Marquel Bell, and Spencer Fano offering Day 2 or Day 3 options.

Edge and corner could still surprise people

Ledyard likes Detroit’s edge options more at 50 than at 17. He highlighted an Illinois pass rusher whose burst and violence fit what the Lions tend to like, though he still needs polish. He also brought up an Auburn edge defender he ranks above Keldric Faulk, along with Akheem Mesidor and Jermod McCoy as other names with the juice Detroit craves, based on both tape and production.

The common thread was clear. Detroit needs more juice opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Ledyard is less interested in solid long-term types if they do not win with burst. That is why he sounded cooler on names like Zion Young and TJ Parker.

Cornerback is the other wild card. With D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and McCreary in the room, Detroit is not empty there. Still, injuries and uneven development keep the door open.

Ledyard said Chris Johnson from San Diego State could make sense as a surprise first-round target. He thinks Johnson crushed the combine and the interview process and will go in Round 1. Later in the draft, D’Angelo Ponds is another name he likes.

The strongest clue right now is still the silence. Detroit has hidden its visits, canceled a normal pro day, and kept almost every draft breadcrumb off the draft board.

That does not guarantee a shocker at pick 17, but it does make one easier to believe, especially with all the twists showing up in recent mock drafts. If Holmes walks out of Thursday night with a trade down, a tackle like Blake Miller, or a pick nobody saw coming, this spring will make a lot more sense ahead of the NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions pick 17.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Lions’ pre-draft process so quiet this year?

The Lions have zero leaked top-30 visits and even canceled their local pro day, which is unprecedented according to reporters like Matt Dery who’ve covered drafts since 2017. Brad Holmes stayed in Detroit instead of league meetings, signaling tight front office-coaching alignment and a deliberate strategy to hide their draft board. This silence has fans and mocks buzzing about a smoke screen or real shocker at pick 17.

What could Brad Holmes do at pick 17?

Holmes hasn’t ruled out staying put, trading down for a third-round pick (like Bill Barnwell suggests to maximize value), or trading up aggressively as he’s done before. With no Round 3 selection but nine picks total, sliding back could net an OT like Kadyn Proctor or Caleb Lomu plus extra capital amid looming extensions for Jahmyr Gibbs and others. A QB-needy team jumping for Ty Simpson might even trigger the move.

Who are the top prospects linked to the Lions at 17?

Blake Miller from Clemson stands out as Jon Ledyard’s top fit. He’s a young, athletic tackle with 54 starts and nasty finishing power. Others include Kadyn Proctor (Alabama, though more guard traits), interior beast Vega Ioane, and Day 2 tackles like Austin Barber. Edge options shine more at pick 50, like Illinois’ bursty rusher, while Chris Johnson (CB) could surprise in Round 1.

Do the Lions need to rebuild or just reload?

Analyst Jon Ledyard views Detroit as an NFC North contender needing to reload around core like Penei Sewell, Aidan Hutchinson, and Jared Goff, not rebuild despite a tougher division. The offensive line is priority one due to age and its role in run blocking/pass pro, bolstered by quiet adds like Cade Mays and versatile DBs Roger McCreary and Christian Izien. Health in the secondary remains a swing factor with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.

Could the Lions trade down from pick 17?

Yes, trading down a few spots to add a third-rounder makes sense per PFF value charts and Barnwell, especially if multiple OTs (Proctor, Lomu, Freeling) are available. It fits Holmes’ flexible approach and addresses the draft stash gap while staying in range for starters. Dery notes it could happen if teams leap for a QB like Ty Simpson.

What’s Your Take?

Holmes has gone completely dark. No leaked visits, no local pro day, no breadcrumbs. A guy who has been doing pre-draft coverage since 2017 says he has never seen anything like it.

So what does that tell you? Is Holmes playing 4D chess and hiding a pick that is going to make every mock draft look stupid on Thursday night? Or is the silence just silence, and we are all reading too much into it because we are Lions fans and this is what we do?

Blake Miller at 17 makes sense. A trade down makes sense. A move nobody saw coming also makes sense, because that is exactly who Brad Holmes has shown himself to be.

Pick your poison and drop it in the comments. Stay put, trade down, or shock the room? What is Holmes doing at 17 and how confident are you that it ends well?

👇 Drop your prediction below. Draft night is almost here!