General manager Brad Holmes made that much clear when asked about the Detroit Lions‘ willingness to continue selecting highly developmental prospects, a strategy that has drawn plenty of debate over the past few draft cycles.
And if you’re waiting for Holmes to back off that approach? Don’t hold your breath.
Developmental Picks Aren’t an Accident
Names like Hendon Hooker, Brodric Martin, and Giovanni Manu often come up when fans question whether the Lions are taking on too much risk in the draft.
These weren’t plug-and-play rookies. They were long-term bets, players drafted with traits, upside, and development in mind rather than immediate returns.
Holmes doesn’t see that as reckless. He sees it as intentional.
Why Holmes Is Comfortable Taking the Risk
For Holmes, talent alone isn’t enough. Developmental or not, a player has to clear a very specific bar.
“As long as they’re made up of the right kind of stuff,” Holmes said. “That’s the main thing that matters.”
That “stuff” goes beyond measurables or athletic testing.
“There’s a baseline of talent you have to have for this league,” Holmes said, “but they have to have the right temperament, have the right intangible qualities, they have to have the right football character.”
In other words: the Lions are betting on who the player is, not just what he is right now.
Why This Fits Detroit’s Bigger Plan
This approach only works if the locker room culture is strong, and that’s something Detroit believes it has firmly established. Developmental players require patience, coaching, and buy-in. They also require players willing to grind without immediate payoff.
Holmes clearly believes the Lions’ environment allows that kind of growth.
And even when some of those bets don’t hit, he’s not letting misses scare him away from the process.
Not About Safety — About Upside
The Lions could play it safer. They could draft older, more polished prospects every year and avoid criticism when a pick takes time. But Holmes isn’t building for comfort; he’s building for ceilings.
If a developmental prospect:
- Has NFL-level talent
- Fits the culture
- Shows the right mindset
Then Detroit is willing to invest the time.
The Bottom Line
Brad Holmes isn’t abandoning developmental picks; he’s refining them.
As long as the player checks the boxes that matter most to the Lions, Detroit will continue to swing on upside, even if it means living with a little risk. In Holmes’ mind, that’s not a flaw in the process, it is the process
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