The NFL has a dirty little secret that nobody wants to talk about. The Detroit Lions’ approach to building a roster actually works better than the flashy, headline-grabbing method everyone obsesses over.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. The Rams won a Super Bowl doing it the other way. Great. One ring in 14 years as a GM isn’t exactly a dynasty, is it?
Two Ways to Build, One Clear Winner
There are really only two ways to construct an NFL roster. You can do it the Rams way and buy your players through trades and big-money free agency signings. Or you can do it the Lions way and draft smart, develop your picks, and retain the good ones.
The Rams method gets all the attention because it’s loud and immediate. Trade away draft capital, throw money at established stars, hope it all clicks for one magical season. Sometimes it works. The 2020 Buccaneers pulled it off. The 2015 Broncos did it once. But notice the pattern here? It usually works exactly one time, then you’re stuck rebuilding your salary cap and restocking your draft picks while trying to catch lightning in a bottle again.
The Lions method is quieter but infinitely more sustainable. Draft well, keep your good players, build something that lasts longer than a single championship window.
The Proof Is Everywhere
Look around the league at the teams that consistently compete. The Eagles built their core through the draft and retention. Most of their key players were developed internally, and Howie Roseman has multiple Super Bowl rings to show for it. Funny thing is, when he tries to go the Rams route with big trades, it usually blows up in his face. See basically all of his trades from last year.
The Chiefs are the perfect example. Their stars were all drafted and developed. They don’t chase expensive free agents or mortgage their future for trades. Multiple championships later, that philosophy looks pretty damn smart.
Even the Patriots dynasty was built this way. Brady and Belichick rarely went shopping for big names. Remember the one year they did? They got Randy Moss and promptly lost the Super Bowl to the Giants.
The Seahawks built their team through the draft. People might point out that the Seahawks spent the fourth-most in free agency the year before their Super Bowl win, but a little over half of what they spent was just them getting Sam Darnold.
Why Brad Holmes Has It Right
There are countless examples of why the Lions’ approach works more consistently than the alternative. Brad Holmes understands this. He’s building something meant to last, not just flash for one season.
I get it. Fans want the dopamine hit of a blockbuster trade or a massive free agent signing. We want that moment where everything feels different overnight. But here’s the thing about those moments: when they don’t work out, those same fans will be the first ones screaming about how that move ruined everything.
It’s all psychology, and we’re all dealing with it. But the smart money is on the patient approach. The Lions are building the right way, even if it doesn’t generate the headlines that selling your future for immediate gratification would.
Think Holmes has it backwards, or are you finally ready to trust the process that actually works? Drop your take in the comments.
