The Detroit Lions are in the middle of a franchise resurgence, rolling to 36 wins over the past three seasons and making back-to-back playoff appearances. After a 15-2 finish last year and keeping most of their core intact, they’ll head into training camp with legitimate Super Bowl expectations.
With the 2025 NFL Draft less than a week away, the Lions’ most significant issue is their pass rush. The team finished near the bottom of the league in sacks in 2024, with Aidan Hutchinson leading the team with 7.5. Hutchinson was limited to only five games, so the unit’s production should be boosted if he remains healthy.
Detroit brought back Marcus Davenport, but the veteran defensive end has only played six games over the past two seasons. Surprisingly, the team added no top-tier edge rushers in free agency.
Most experts believe the team will look to shore up its holes in the draft since they didn’t address the pass rush in free agency; however, the Lions’ general manager has a different philosophy.
Lions’ Brad Holmes Cautions Against Drafting for “Right Now”
There are usually two trains of thought when building a roster through the draft. Should you select the best available player, or do you draft by areas of need as the top priority?
Holmes believes the Lions’ primary draft strategy should avoid a short-term focus and feels that approach could be risky.
“I think you can get in trouble chasing needs sometimes, and then you’re depending on a rookie,” Holmes told NFL.com. “You do the best you can, but nobody has a crystal ball. So, it can be a tough world to live in.
“There’s just a level of patience you have to (have). When you start chasing need, it’s like that need might make sense for right now at this time. We make these picks for future investments. We kind of live in a society that everything is, ‘Right now! Right now! Right now!'”
The Lions’ first pick is at No. 28. PFSN’s latest mock draft runs counter to Holmes’ philosophy, with the team predicted to select EDGE Mykel Williams from the University of Georgia to address the team’s need on the defensive front.
Holmes’ draft strategy may not be what the team’s fans want to hear, but with a 27-7 record over the past two seasons, it’s clear his commitment to patience and long-term team building has paid off. As Detroit prepares for one of the most pivotal drafts in the team’s history, Holmes is clearly sticking to his blueprint that put the team in this position—build smart, remain disciplined, and focus on reinforcing the foundation for the future.