When Brad Holmes Goes Shopping, Everyone Else is Window Shopping
Look, we all know the drill by now. Draft weekend rolls around and suddenly everyone with a laptop becomes an expert on whether a pick is a “reach” or a “steal.” Most of it is educated guessing at best. But here’s what we can do: stack up Brad Holmes’ picks against what the draft consensus thought and see where Detroit zoned in on their guys.
According to the consensus big board that averaged over 100 different media rankings, the Lions reached on six picks and found one absolute gem. And honestly? That sounds about right for a front office that knows exactly what they want.
Round One: Blake Miller Gets the Early Call
The consensus had Miller ranked 31st overall. Holmes took him at 17. That’s a reach on paper, but Miller was still viewed as a first-round talent and the fourth offensive tackle off the board.
Here’s the thing about positional value and long-term planning. Miller projects as the right tackle of the future, and maybe his ranking took a hit because he’s not a left tackle. The Lions needed to fill a premium position and they went and got their guy. Miller walks into camp as the presumed starter at right tackle, with Larry Borom providing the veteran competition.
Round Two: Trading Up for Derrick Moore
Holmes packaged picks 50 and 128 to move up to 44 and grab Moore, who was ranked 63rd on the consensus board. Another reach, but again, still within the round where he was projected.
The move makes sense when you realize Baltimore was sitting at 45 and took edge rusher Zion Young immediately after Detroit’s pick. Holmes saw what he wanted and went and got it. Moore figures to start in subpackages while DJ Wonnum handles the early down work, but long-term this could finally give Detroit a legitimate pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Round Four: Jimmy Rolder Fills the Anzalone Void
Rolder was ranked 167th but went at 118. That’s a significant reach for a linebacker who’s replacing Alex Anzalone at the WILL spot.
The pick feels like a project more than an immediate impact player. Rolder should see heavy special teams work as a rookie while he develops at the linebacker position. Sometimes you draft for potential over polish.
Round Five: Keith Abney II Was the Draft’s Best Value
Now here’s where Holmes showed everyone else how it’s done. Abney was ranked 61st overall and fell all the way to pick 157. That’s a 96-spot drop and the kind of value that makes draft classes.
Holmes was apparently considering Abney at pick 118, so getting him nearly 40 picks later had to feel like Christmas morning in Allen Park. The cornerback has inside-outside versatility and should immediately compete for the open nickel spot while providing depth everywhere else.
Round Five: Kendrick Law Adds Speed
Detroit traded up again to grab Law at 168, even though the consensus had him ranked 200th. Law brings speed and return ability while also showing eagerness to block, which is exactly the kind of receiver this offense values.
The Late Round Reaches
Skyler Gill-Howard went at 205 despite being ranked 227th, and Tyre West was the biggest reach of the draft at 222 when he was ranked 378th.
Gill-Howard has an incredible personal story and will get his shot to make the roster. West represents the kind of late-round lottery ticket that every team takes.
Six reaches and one steal. That’s not perfect, but when you trust your board and know what fits your system, sometimes you have to reach for your guys. And when Keith Abney II is starting games in Honolulu Blue, nobody’s going to care that Jimmy Rolder was taken 50 spots early.
Did Holmes nail this draft or are we just convinced because we want to believe in competent management? Drop your take below.
Keith Abney falling 96 spots is exactly the kind of thing that makes you trust Holmes knows something everyone else is missing. The guy has already proven he can evaluate talent in ways the consensus misses, and getting a potential starting corner in round 5 is chef’s kiss. I’m so ready to see how this secondary shapes up.
Okay so Abney is a steal, I get it, but I’m still not convinced about reaching that hard on Rolder and some of these other guys. Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt but we’ve seen reaches not work out before. Let’s see these guys actually produce in camp before we’re calling this draft a success.
This is what separates a real front office from the chaos we’ve seen for so many years. Holmes trusts his board and sticks to it instead of just reacting to what everyone on Twitter thinks. That Abney pick alone shows he’s not just picking names randomly like some GMs used to do, and it’s refreshing to see.