The Detroit Lions nailed the top of their 2023 NFL Draft. Four picks in, and four instant-impact starters, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch, all became cornerstones of the franchise.
But, as GM Brad Holmes will be the first to admit, no draft is perfect.
While the four players mentioned above have shone on Sundays, their mid-to-late-round selections haven’t delivered the same impact. Antoine Green, for example, never made it past the preseason due to injury, leaving Detroit’s need for wide receiver depth unresolved.
Meanwhile, halfway across the country, the Los Angeles Rams, Holmes’ old stomping grounds, struck gold with Puka Nacua.
Puka Power in L.A.
Taken 177th overall in the fifth round, Nacua’s NFL rise has been nothing short of ridiculous. As a rookie, he caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and three touchdowns, instantly becoming quarterback Matthew Stafford’s go-to target.
Last season, even with injuries limiting him to 11 games, he still racked up 990 yards and three scores. That’s 2,476 yards in just two seasons, the kind of production that makes every GM ask themselves, “How did we not see this coming?”
Holmes Keeps It Real
When asked by ESPN’s Kevin Clark on the This Is Football podcast which scouting report he’d like a do-over on, Holmes didn’t hesitate.
“The one that I’ve spoken about most recently is Puka Nacua,” Holmes said as transcribed by Lions OnSI. “Ask my personnel staff, that’s one I’ve brought up, like, ‘Man, it is what it is.’ If you don’t recognize those things, if you don’t self-assess yourself constantly, you can’t grow and you can’t get better. Everyone wants to preach humility and be humble and all that, you have to be honest to be humble. You’ve got to be honest if you miss out on something, something you could’ve done a little bit better.”
It’s a refreshing moment of transparency from a GM who’s widely regarded as one of the best in the NFL. Most executives would rather bury those regrets under a pile of coach-speak and “we like our guys” lines. Holmes is the opposite, he owns it.
What Could Have Been in Detroit
It’s easy to play the “what if” game in the NFL. Would Nacua have thrived in Ben Johnson’s offense the same way he has with Sean McVay? Would he have pushed Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and company for targets? Could his physical, sure-handed style have made Detroit’s already explosive offense even scarier?
We’ll never know. But Holmes’ willingness to acknowledge the miss says a lot about his approach, relentless self-evaluation. And considering how well he’s built this Lions roster, that mindset might just keep Detroit in the contender conversation for years to come.
The Bottom Line
Brad Holmes might regret not drafting Puka Nacua, but if his track record is any indication, he’s just as likely to turn that regret into fuel for future drafts. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that’s exactly the kind of leadership you want calling the shots.
One Response
You know, Hooker has to be at the very top of your bust list, you know. You know, going out and getting Bridgewater last season, you know, showed everyone, you know, how much confidence the Lions, you know, have in Hooker. But, most of your draftees have been GREAT! Thank you for, you know putting the work in. Us Lions fans have confidence in you and Campbell….GO LIONS!