Brad Holmes Just Drafted Three Elite Grit Players and You Probably Didn’t Even Notice
The Lions grabbed seven new players in the 2026 draft, and while you were busy arguing about whether Blake Miller was worth the 17th pick, Brad Holmes quietly assembled one of the grittiest draft classes in the league. Three of his seven picks landed in the “elite” tier of the Grit Index. That’s not luck. That’s a general manager who knows exactly what he’s building.
Let me put this in perspective for you. Only 17 NFL teams managed to draft even one elite grit player in 2026. Holmes got three. The Bears got four, but that’s because they had Ben Johnson running their draft room, and he learned from the best.
Meanwhile, the Packers and Vikings? Zero elite grit players. Shocking, I know.
Blake Miller Scored Higher Than Anyone Expected
Miller didn’t just score well on the Grit Index. He demolished it with a 9.67, landing sixth overall in the entire draft class and earning “upper elite” status. The guy missed one practice in four years at Clemson. One. And that was only because he needed surgery after breaking his wrist in spring workouts.
He was back on the field the next day.
The man was a team captain, a three-time All-ACC selection, and started 54 straight games over four seasons. That’s a Clemson record, by the way. When an NFL scout says “the thought of letting down his coaches and teammates kills him,” you know Holmes found his guy.
Miller also chose to forge his own path at Clemson despite being an Ohio kid with an Ohio State dad and a Buckeyes offer on the table. That’s the kind of independence and confidence this franchise needs protecting Jared Goff’s blind side.
Keith Abney Was a Legitimate Steal
Abney scored a 9.07, putting him 26th overall in the entire draft class. The Lions got him in the fifth round. Let that sink in for a minute.
This is a guy who was a national champion inline speed skater before he ever stepped on a football field. He plays bigger than his size, initiates contact, and takes pride in being an elite run defender. One AFC regional scout called him a culture setter who’s “trusted and well-respected” in Arizona State’s building.
The fact that he fell to the fifth round says more about other teams’ evaluation processes than it does about Abney’s talent. Holmes saw what everyone else missed.
Skyler Gill-Howard’s Story Will Make You Believe Again
Gill-Howard scored 9.42, eighth overall in the entire draft class. The Lions got him in the sixth round. This is highway robbery with a smile.
The man worked at FedEx for three years while playing college football without a scholarship. He transferred twice, betting on himself both times. He lacked scholarship support for three seasons and still became a team captain. An NFL scout said they’re going to miss his “big brother energy” in that building.
This is exactly the kind of player who thrives in Allen Park. Holmes didn’t just find talent in the sixth round. He found a leader.
The System Isn’t Perfect But It’s Working
The Grit Index missed some things on players like Derrick Moore and Jimmy Rolder, partly because Michigan’s coaching chaos made information harder to come by. Moore scored just 6.68 despite being a team captain with a relentless motor and great football IQ. The system is being tweaked to account for these gaps.
But here’s what matters: Holmes has now drafted seven players in the top 26 of the Grit Index over the last two years. Half of his 14 draft picks in that span were considered elite or near-elite. That’s not an accident. That’s a philosophy in action.
Kendrick Law scored just 4.84, but he’s a dynamic slot receiver who isn’t afraid to block and has extensive special teams experience. Tyre West scored 2.57, but he was a seventh-round flyer with limited information available. Sometimes you take a shot on motor and versatility and see what happens.
This is What Championship Culture Looks Like
While other teams chase combine numbers and highlight reels, Holmes is building something different. He’s collecting players who won’t quit, won’t complain, and won’t let their teammates down. Players who understand that football is about more than individual stats.
The Lions and Bears combined to draft 25% of all the elite grit players who were selected. That’s not a coincidence. That’s what happens when you have decision-makers who understand that talent without character is just expensive disappointment.
Holmes has been doing this for years now, and the results speak for themselves. This isn’t the same franchise that drafted Charles Rogers and Mike Williams in back-to-back years. This is a different Detroit Lions, built on a foundation that can actually support success.
Three elite grit players in one draft class. Half the league couldn’t manage one. But sure, let’s keep questioning whether Brad Holmes knows what he’s doing.
Think Holmes nailed this draft or are we just drunk on optimism again? Drop your take in the comments below.
