Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes isn’t dodging the past, especially when it comes to how the team handled the offensive line before Frank Ragnow’s sudden retirement.
During his season-ending press conference, Holmes was asked what lessons the organization learned from Ragnow’s retirement after the 2025 NFL Draft, a timing that left the Lions with limited options to replace an All-Pro center. The question naturally led to how Detroit should now approach left tackle Taylor Decker’s uncertain future.
Holmes didn’t sugarcoat it.
“If it happens again, like I was saying, it’s never been ignored,” He said as quoted by Lions OnSI. “It’s going to come at some point. As good of let’s call it more veteran offensive line that we’ve had in the past that has been comprised of a lot of good players and at one point four first-round picks, it’s never been ignored,” Holmes said.
But he also made it clear there’s a fine line between being aggressive and being reckless.
“But also, you just can’t reach and just make a move just to make a move. You can reach for a tackle or just make a move for a tackle and that player’s just not as good enough of a replacement.”
The Ragnow Fallout Still Lingers
When Ragnow announced his retirement shortly after the 2025 draft, it caught the Lions off guard. Detroit had already used its premium picks, believing the offensive line foundation was secure. Instead, they were suddenly forced into patchwork solutions at one of the most important positions on the field.
Around the league, executives quietly acknowledged the same thing: losing an elite lineman is tough — losing one after draft weekend is brutal.
Holmes didn’t name Ragnow directly in every answer, but the message was obvious. The Lions don’t want to be boxed into that corner again.
Decker’s Future Brings Urgency
That’s why Taylor Decker’s situation feels different.
Holmes openly admitted that whatever Decker decides will shape the entire offseason strategy.
“I’m not sure what Decker’s going to decide to do. But that’s – not only will it have to be urgent this offseason, but it’s been urgent in the past.”
Detroit has tried to prepare. In 2024, the Lions drafted Giovanni Manu as a long-term developmental tackle. But Holmes made it clear that plan alone isn’t good enough.
“And look, we’ve drafted. With two years ago, we drafted (Giovanni) Manu as more of a developmental guy thinking that he’s going to have some years to take some steps forward,” Holmes said.
“But it would be irresponsible for us to just go into it thinking that, ‘Well, we drafted a developmental player a couple of years ago. He’s going to be the guy.’”
No More Hoping. Only Planning.
Holmes also pushed back on the idea that Detroit ever ignores roster holes — even when plans don’t work out perfectly.
“I don’t think, I could be wrong, but I don’t think that we’ve ever kind of gone into an offseason with a question mark or a hole and we didn’t attack that position with urgency. But sometimes it just doesn’t work out as well as we want it to.”
That last sentence might be the most honest part of the entire exchange.
The Lions did plan for life after Ragnow. They just didn’t expect the timing to blow up the plan.
Now, with Decker’s future unclear and the Super Bowl window wide open, Detroit isn’t waiting for surprises anymore.
They’re preparing for them.
Drafted with AI assistance, edited and fact-checked by DSN staff.
