As NFL free agency winds down and the NFL Draft starts to become the focus of football media, the Detroit Lions still seemingly have a lot of work to do. It’s been a tumultuous offseason thus far. They have seen 10 players sign elsewhere, traded one player away, and have released three others—most of whom were players who had significant roles on the team. While the Lions have also signed 12 external free agents—the most they’ve signed since the first year of this regime—many of those players are on one-year, small-value deals.
In other words, it’s probably fair to say that in terms of net talent, Detroit has lost more than it has gained. It may not be as dramatic as some are suggesting, but it’s also hard to say they got better in many places.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes said he’s not done in free agency, and Detroit has two opportunities to add starting talent with their 17th and 50th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. So today’s Question of the Day is:
What should be the Lions’ primary remaining offseason goal?
My answer: I’m tempted to say “put the finishing touches on the offensive line” by adding a long-term starting tackle in the draft, but I’ve already let my feelings on that be known in a Question of the Day from earlier in the week.
Instead, I’m going to go a little abstract in my answer here.
One of Holmes’ biggest messages from his podcast appearance earlier this week was talking about the cap constraints the team currently has. Because of an expensive core of drafted and developed players, the Lions were only able to hand out one big multi-year external free agent contract. This is why the Lions haven’t gotten better this offseason.
The only way to successfully counter a tightening budget in the NFL is to add as much young, drafted talent on cheap rookie deals. Unfortunately, the Lions have had a very bad tendency as of late to drain their draft resources each draft weekend with risky trade-ups. In the past two drafts, Holmes has traded up seven times and traded down zero times.
What I find interesting is that Holmes seems so averse to putting the team into tough financial situations in the future. He prefers low-cost free agents and does minimal contract restructuring to protect future cap. He’s focused on keeping this team’s sustainability at a high rate—or more simply: he’s not willing to jeopardize the future for the now. I have no problem with that approach. Sustainability means keeping the Super Bowl window open for as long as possible and getting as many bites at the apple as possible. It’s logical, even if it requires patience.
Yet when it comes to the draft, Holmes seemingly has no guardrails for the future. He is constantly selling future assets and future opportunities for individual players he likes.
So Holmes’ biggest remaining offseason goal needs to be: acquire more draft picks.
The Lions face a very difficult challenge in April, needing to upgrade the roster in several areas with only two draft picks in the top 100. Holmes had already helped himself in this department with an admittedly great-value trade of David Montgomery that landed them Pick 128. But Detroit needs more than that.
If Holmes is truly committed to this team’s future sustainability, he needs to change his draft habits. Detroit needs a more balanced approach when it comes to draft day trades, and the proof is in Holmes’ own history. In his first three drafts—which have been lauded as incredible—he’s been far more balanced, trading up five times and trading down three times. His best draft day trade has undoubtedly been his trade down from Pick 6 to Pick 12 in 2023 that helped him net Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta.
So, whether it’s a trade down that nets the team more 2026 draft capital or another move that fortifies their future draft ammo, Holmes needs to start taking his “sustainability” approach from free agency and carry it over into the draft.
What would you like to see the Lions accomplish in the rest of the offseason? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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