The Myles Garrett Trade Has Lions Fans Asking All the Wrong Questions
The Los Angeles Rams just traded for Myles Garrett, and suddenly every NFL writer is penciling them in for a Super Bowl run. Meanwhile, Lions fans are sitting here watching another franchise make a splash move and wondering why Brad Holmes isn’t swinging for the fences.
Look, I get it. After missing the playoffs entirely following a season where they had reached deep into the postseason, restlessness is setting in. Some fans are genuinely questioning whether Holmes is doing enough to bring a championship to Detroit. But let’s pump the brakes for a second.
The Rams Had Something We Don’t
Here’s the thing everyone conveniently ignores when they scream about blockbuster trades: the Lions literally could not have pulled off the Garrett deal. The Rams had Jared Verse, a young Pro Bowl talent at a premium position making almost nothing against the cap. That’s the golden ticket in trades like this.
What do the Lions have that compares? Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, and Sam LaPorta are our only young, cheap elite talent. Maybe Gibbs comes close to Verse’s trade value, but do you really want to deal away a Pro Bowl running back who’s still on his rookie deal? Didn’t think so.
Without that cornerstone piece, Detroit would have had to throw in extra first-round picks and perform salary cap gymnastics just to make the numbers work. That’s not smart roster building, that’s desperation.
Short Memory Problems
Three years ago, this team was a half away from the Super Bowl. Two years ago, they were the best team in football for the regular season. Then they had one down year where both coordinators left, their All-Pro center retired, and they suffered the second-most defensive injuries of any team over the last 25 years.
One bad season and suddenly we’re ready to blow up the entire philosophy that got us here? Come on. This is the same Brad Holmes who built this roster from nothing. The same Dan Campbell who transformed the culture of this franchise.
Yes, Holmes could be more aggressive in certain spots. But throwing away the foundation they’ve built because the Rams made a flashy trade would be classic Lions fan overreaction.
Trust the Process, Even When It’s Hard
Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt. He’s the best general manager this franchise has ever had, and that’s not even close. When you’ve watched this organization for decades, you learn to recognize competence when you see it.
Could he be more aggressive? Sure. Should he abandon the home-grown approach that got us into playoff contention? Hell no.
The Garrett trade makes headlines, but sustainable success comes from building through the draft and making smart veteran additions. Holmes knows this. Campbell knows this. And deep down, so do you.
Are you ready to trust the process or do you want to panic trade our way back to mediocrity? Let me know what you think in the comments.
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Everyone’s losing their minds over one flashy trade and acting like Holmes should be panic trading away our best young pieces. The article nails it – we don’t have what the Rams have to make that deal work without gutting ourselves. I’m choosing to believe in what Brad and Dan are building here because it actually feels different than before.
Ok I hear what you’re saying and I respect Holmes more than I have any GM in a long time, but it still stings watching other teams make moves like this. I’m not saying we should’ve done it, but don’t tell me there weren’t any other ways to get more aggressive. We’ll see if sitting tight works out or if we regret it later.
Man, being a Lions fan this long teaches you patience whether you like it or not. What Holmes and Campbell have done with the culture of this team is night and day compared to what we’ve suffered through. One down year doesn’t erase what they’ve built and I’m not about to panic on them now. Trust the process is literally all we can do at this point.
This take is refreshing because it actually makes sense. Gibbs, Branch, and LaPorta are too valuable to just throw away trying to match the Rams’ desperation move. Holmes has proven he knows what he’s doing, so yeah I’m gonna chill with the panic and let him work.