Brad Holmes does not care about Mock Drafts. If you live and die by the Mock then this news probably irritates you to some degree. Myself a well known loather of Mock Drafts found it refreshing when the Detroit Lions GM said, “There’s a lot of information that I don’t expect the people that are putting out the mock drafts to know, and it’s not their fault. They’re not in the medical meetings. I look at them, I respect them, but it’s not always going to be right. And then you’ve got to make the best pick that you can and be confident with it. Post-Draft and immediate Draft grades, when the pick didn’t line up with those mocks, you’ve got to be willing and comfortable to take the thrashing because they didn’t line up with the mock. It’s all good.”
Brad Holmes only cares about one thing…….. getting the right fit for his football team. Positional Value be damned. There were very loud audible gasps and groans when RB, Jahmyr Gibbs from the University of Alabama was announced as the Detroit Lions first, first round draft pick at #12 due to a trade back. The Lions picked again at #18 and selected Iowa Hawkeyes LB, Jack Campbell.
NFL and draft experts were harsh on the picks. Yet, now that the smoke has cleared the picks make sense for what the Lions have built under Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. High energy, high character players who make impacts. That is what Gibbs and Campbell give Detroit right off the bat.
Last night on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Holmes really brough the Lions closer to being a serious playoff team this upcoming season. Drafting Iowa Hawkeyes TE, Sam Laporta, Alabama Crimson Tide S, Brian Branch, Tennessee Volunteers QB, Hendon Hooker and Western Kentucky DT, Brodric Martin.
Brad Holmes has done it again. No matter if you like positional value which most prefer, Holmes selected best players for his team. This is a spot the Detroit Lions have not been in, in well a very long time. The organization was able to select “the best player available.” Holmes did and then in meeting with the media stood his ground. The Detroit Lions are a better football team today for his work.
