Holmes and Campbell Built Something Real This Offseason
The dust has settled on free agency and the draft, and it’s time to take stock of what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell accomplished this offseason. No, there wasn’t a splashy Calvin Ridley signing or a blockbuster trade that broke the internet. But if you’ve been paying attention to what this front office does, you know that’s never been their style anyway.
Holmes went out and did what he always does. He identified needs, found value, and built depth in places where this team got exposed. And yes, I know what you’re thinking: where are the big names?
Free Agency: Boring But Smart
Look at what the Lions actually added in free agency. D.J. Wonnum gives them a legitimate starting edge rusher. Cade Mays is a starting center. Larry Borom can start at tackle if needed. Roger McCreary is a slot corner who can actually cover people.
Beyond the starters, Holmes loaded up on secondary depth like his life depended on it. Christian Izien, Chuck Clark, bringing back Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin. This is a man who watched what happened when injuries hit the defensive backfield and said never again.
The one miss here? Interior defensive line. Roy Lopez walking away stings, and not making a bigger push for defensive tackles in free agency left a hole that needed filling. But Holmes had a plan for that too.
The Draft: Holmes Back to His Best
This draft felt like vintage Brad Holmes. Blake Miller, Derrick Moore, Keith Abney. These aren’t projects. These are guys who can start Week 1 and solve actual problems.
Miller slides in at right tackle. Moore adds pass rush depth. Abney fills that cornerback need that’s been lurking for months.
The only pick that might take time is Kendrick Law at receiver, and even then, this is a guy who could contribute on special teams right away. Jimmy Rolder at linebacker adds depth at a position where injuries have been brutal. Skyler Gill-Howard helps address that defensive tackle concern from free agency.
Holmes turned seven picks into seven potential contributors. That doesn’t happen by accident.
The Big Picture: Contender Status
Put it all together and this Lions roster looks deeper and more balanced than it has in years. The offensive line should be a strength again with Miller and the moves they made. The secondary has actual depth for once. The pass rush has options beyond just hoping Hutch stays healthy all season.
Is this roster perfect? Hell no. They could still use more help on the interior defensive line, and there are always questions about staying healthy. But this is a team built to compete in a loaded NFC North and make noise in January.
Holmes and Campbell have earned the benefit of the doubt at this point. They’ve built something real in Allen Park, and this offseason added the pieces to keep it rolling. The splash moves are nice, but sustainable success comes from exactly this kind of methodical roster building.
Think this offseason puts the Lions over the top or are we still missing that one big piece? Let me know in the comments below.
This is exactly what I’ve been saying. Holmes doesn’t need to make the flashy moves, he needs to build a team that can stay healthy and compete week in and week out. The secondary depth alone shows this front office learned from the past couple seasons. I’m feeling really good about where we’re headed.
I get what you’re saying about the methodical approach and I respect Holmes for thinking about depth, but I gotta be honest I’m still waiting to see it actually work on Sundays. The draft picks look solid on paper but we’ve been burned before by “this guy can contribute right away” players who just don’t pan out.
Man, you know what? After all the garbage years I’ve watched, seeing a front office that actually has a plan and sticks to building things the right way is refreshing. Holmes and Campbell get it. This is how you build something that lasts, not these quick fixes that blow up in your face.