The 2026 Draft is Done. Holmes Did It Again.
The Detroit Lions wrapped up three days of draft action with seven new players heading to Allen Park, and if you squint hard enough, you can see the blueprint Brad Holmes has been following since he got here. Attack the lines. Build depth everywhere. Find players who won’t quit on you when things get ugly.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Seven picks feels light for a team that’s been trading future assets like they’re going out of style. But Holmes didn’t draft for immediate need here, he drafted like a general manager who knows what kind of team he’s building.
Round 1, Pick 17: Blake Miller, RT, Clemson
This is the move that makes everything else click. Miller isn’t just a right tackle, he’s the guy who could finally let Penei Sewell slide over to left tackle where he belongs. Dan Campbell has been pretty clear about wanting the right player for that spot, and Miller checks every box that matters in Allen Park.
At 6-foot-7 and 318 pounds, Miller has 54 starts at Clemson and missed exactly one practice in four years. One. The man had wrist surgery and was back on the field the next day. That’s not just toughness, that’s the kind of obsessive reliability this franchise has been missing for decades.
Holmes reportedly considered trading up for Miller, which tells you everything about how the front office valued him. When your GM is willing to mortgage picks for an offensive tackle, you listen.
Round 2, Pick 44: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
The Lions traded up six spots to grab Moore, giving up picks 50 and 128 to the Jets. That’s aggressive for Holmes, but it makes sense when you watch Moore play. He sets the edge with violence and rushes with the kind of relentless effort that translates immediately.
Moore should compete with DJ Wonnum for a starting spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson from day one. Having two Michigan products anchoring your pass rush feels right in a city that understands grinding for everything you get.
Day 3: Depth and Development
Round 4 brought Jimmy Rolder, a Michigan linebacker with limited starting experience but impressive instincts. He flows to the football like he’s been doing it his whole life, even though he’s only been a starter for one season. Classic Holmes pick: high floor, legitimate upside, immediate special teams value.
Keith Abney in the fifth round might be the steal of the class. National analysts had him as a Top 100 pick, and the Lions grabbed him at 157. He can play outside or slide into the slot, and his 9.07 Grit Index score tells you he won’t back down from anybody.
Holmes made another trade to grab Kendrick Law from Kentucky, giving the Bills picks 181 and 213. Law is a slot receiver with 4.45 speed who could return punts. Then he closed out the draft with two defensive linemen: Skyler Gill-Howard from Texas A&M and Tyre West from Tennessee. Both project as rotational pieces who can kick inside in subpackages.
The Holmes Formula
This draft class looks like every other Holmes draft: heavy on the lines, loaded with players who test well in the character department, and built for the long haul. Miller and Moore address immediate needs while the Day 3 picks add depth and special teams value.
The Lions are listed at +1800 to win the Super Bowl and +150 to win the NFC North as current favorites. Those odds reflect a franchise that’s done building for someday and started building for right now. This draft class fits that timeline perfectly.
Is Holmes building another championship contender or are we just getting our hopes up again? Drop your take in the comments below.
