Brad Holmes Is Making Calls and We All Know What That Means
The NFL Draft is hours away and the rumors are flying around Allen Park like they always do this time of year. We’ve heard the Lions are head over heels for Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor. We’ve heard teams might trade ahead of Detroit to snag a tackle. We’ve heard there could be an early run on offensive tackles before we’re even on the clock.
Now here’s the latest wrinkle. Two reporters dropped the same intel Thursday morning: Brad Holmes is making calls to explore trading up from the 17th pick.
CBS’s Jonathan Jones put it this way: “The Lions, per sources, have sniffed around moving up from 17th. Some sources have found it hard to believe GM Brad Holmes would make such a move in this draft because the Lions only have pick No. 50 before selecting again in the middle of the fourth round, and teams are behaving as though 2027 picks are untouchable.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler kept it simple: “Some teams are watching Detroit as trade-up threat. They’ve been making calls.”
Before You Panic, Remember This Is Normal GM Stuff
Look, every decent general manager explores their options before draft day. That’s the job description. With the clock reduced from 10 minutes to eight minutes this year, you better know what your moves are ahead of time.
Albert Breer explained it perfectly in his latest draft intel: “The reality is that the best teams, the ones that go into the draft with flexibility, generally make calls both ways, and that’s what GMs are doing in this case. Which is what they should be doing.”
But Holmes Has a History Here
Here’s the thing though. Taking these rumors seriously makes sense when you look at Brad Holmes’ track record. The man has traded up seven times in just the past two drafts alone. He’s moved up in the first round twice in five years as our GM.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. We only have pick 50 before we don’t pick again until the middle of the fourth round. That’s not exactly a treasure chest of draft capital to work with.
But if Holmes really believes he needs to move up to get his offensive tackle of choice, and if other teams are genuinely plotting to jump ahead of us at 17, then maybe those future picks suddenly become very interesting to someone willing to deal.
Could be something. Could be nothing. We’ll know in a matter of hours whether Holmes was just doing his homework or if he’s about to make another signature move.
Are you buying into the trade-up rumors or do you think Holmes should stay put at 17? Let me know what kind of chaos you’re expecting below.
