Lions News

[El Axe]

At 11:25 in the press conference, Holmes is asked about the Carter interview. His answer of course was very non-committal, but he did say "I felt better about him".

I'm guessing we're not getting Carter either way. We probably feel the same about him as the Seahawks. If we like him, they do and will pick him 5th. If we don't then we pass regardless.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions' Holmes committed to being on same page with owner, coach with all roster decisions

Justin Rogers

The Detroit News

Allen Park — Whether it's the high-profile debate about selecting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at the top of the NFL Draft or adding a lesser-known prospect with character concerns in the later rounds, one thing is clear: Detroit Lions leadership, including owner Sheila Hamp, will be on the same page regarding those decisions.


"That's part of my job, to make sure that she's informed," general manager Brad Holmes said Thursday. "So if we go that route of acquiring a player that may stir some headlines, yeah, you definitely want to make sure that she's aware. And that's kind of how we've always ran our process and our approach.


"She's an excellent listener, she sees things all big picture and she has a lot of wise counsel," Holmes continued. "Obviously, you wouldn't do anything to compromise our culture or the integrity or put her in a bad spot or the organization in a bad spot. So, definitely make sure that all things are communicated, especially when it comes to her."


Likely because of his own cultural standards, and his ability to read the room, Holmes said there hasn't been a time where he's been keen on a player and Hamp overruled him, or vice versa.


"I think the reason is we’re so collaborative in everything that we do," Holmes said. "She has so much trust in what me and (coach) Dan (Campbell)'s process is and how we're building the team. And that's very comforting. It's very appreciated, but we just haven't experienced that yet."


As for Holmes and Campbell, the GM said the two are almost always on the same page, but there has been an occasional disagreement about a player, whether in the draft or free agency. But Holmes said those moments are positive, because they offer opportunities to learn more about the way each other thinks.


Most importantly, Holmes made it clear he would never add a player to his roster that his coach, or even one of the assistant coaches, didn't want.


"We're cut from the same cloth, we see players the same," Holmes said about his relationship with Campbell. "It's rarely an experience that has come up where I liked a player and he did not. If that did happen, it always turns into a learning experience, so it ends up being a win-win either way.


"We've got to have buy-in, man. I'm not going to draft a player he doesn't like. You know what I mean? I've been in regimes where I've seen that happen, where a player is drafted and the coach wasn't on board with and it doesn't really lead up to the visions of success that you have for that player because the coach has to have buy-in. Our assistant coaches, they live with these players. They have to teach them, they have to develop them, so you want that buy-in."


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions' Brad Holmes: Okudah trade to Atlanta Falcons will be 'good for Jeff'

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press


Brad Holmes was not shopping for trades when he dealt tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings at last year's NFL trade deadline.

"You get the call and sometimes it just lines up and it makes sense for all parties and it just did," Holmes recalled in his annual pre-draft news conference Thursday.

Holmes found himself in a similar situation last week, when the Lions traded cornerback Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons for a fifth-round pick in a deal that looks like a win-win for everyone involved.


The Lions, who agreed to pay some of Okudah's salary to facilitate the deal, got a fifth-round pick for a player who was buried on their depth chart. The Falcons got a player with untapped potential at one of their biggest positions of need. And Okudah got a fresh start and a chance to compete for a starting job free from the weight of being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft.



"I just think it was the right time. It was just the right time and I think it was good for Jeff," Holmes said. "I had a good talk with him after it was done, and he told me he understood it as well. So it was great. I really respect what Jeff did. We kind of put him in some adverse moments in training camp last year and just like I told you guys, I really respected how he battled and didn’t bat an eye and won the starting job."

Okudah made 22 starts and appeared in 25 games over three injury-riddled seasons in Detroit. He elected to undergo sports hernia surgery to fix a college injury late in his rookie season and missed most of 2021 with a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the Lions' season-opener.


The Lions added three projected starters to their secondary this offseason, signing Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to free agent deals. With Will Harris also returning, Jerry Jacobs still under contract and the potential to add another cornerback in next week's draft, Okudah faced an uphill battle for playing time (and perhaps a roster spot) had he remained in Detroit.


"We had the conversation of, 'OK, if this didn’t happen now, is there a chance that it could happen a little bit later?'" Holmes said. "So I think it was just good for Jeff. I got a lot of respect for (general manager) Terry (Fontenot) out there in Atlanta. It was a really smooth, efficient process and it kind of just came up."


The Lions have nine picks in next week's draft, including seven in the first five rounds, but Holmes said Thursday he does not see this draft as similar to his first draft as Lions GM in 2021, when he set out to accumulate early-round picks because of the draft's lack of depth.


The Lions made six of the first 113 picks in 2021. This year, they have five of the first 81 choices and Picks 152 and 159 in the fifth round.

"It’s just a different draft this year. It just is," Holmes said. "Position strengths and volumes at certain positions are just different from years past, so you just got to weigh all of that. But again, it doesn’t really change our approach at all, you just got to accept the reality of that and then you just adjust from there."


Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions GM Brad Holmes on Jeff Okudah trade: 'It was the right time'

Justin Rogers

The Detroit News


Allen Park — The Detroit Lions weren't actively shopping cornerback Jeff Okudah, according to general manager Brad Holmes. But when the Atlanta Falcons reached out to express interest in the former first-round pick, it quickly became clear to Holmes the move was the right one for all parties.


"It was just the right time and I think it was good for Jeff," Holmes said Thursday. "I had a good talk with him after it was done, and he totally understood it as well. It was great. I really respect what Jeff did. We kind of put him in some adverse moments in training camp last year, and like I told you guys, I really respected how he battled and didn’t bat an eye and won the starting job."


After Detroit's offseason additions, which included signing two starting-caliber cornerbacks in Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley, and a third if you consider safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is expected to see plenty of snaps in the slot, it was clear Okudah was facing an uphill battle for playing time next season.


So instead of holding on to a potentially expensive depth piece on the final year of his rookie deal, Holmes found it best to clear up the logjam now, receiving a 2023 fifth-round pick and giving Okudah a better chance to get acclimated in a new surrounding, as opposed to potentially making the same trade during training camp.


"We had the conversation of, ‘OK, if this didn’t happen now, is there a chance that it could happen a little bit later?'" Holmes said. "I just think it was good for Jeff. I’ve got a lot of respect for (Falcons general manager) Terry (Fontenot) out there in Atlanta. It was a really smooth, efficient process. It kind of just came up.



"Again, like I was telling you guys about the (T.J.) Hockenson trade, I wasn’t making a ton of calls and I wasn’t actively shopping or anything like that. You get the call and sometimes it just lines up and it makes sense for all parties, and it just did.”


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Lions NFL Draft prep: GM Brad Holmes is OK with first-round RBs and other takeaways

By Colton Pouncy
7h ago




Lions GM Brad Holmes is in the process of finalizing his NFL Draft board, preparing himself for all scenarios that await. He’s a week away from welcoming a new crop of players to improve the roster he’s been tasked with strengthening.

The goal with this draft? Full speed ahead.

“If you take your foot off the gas, you can have problems lurking down the road,” Holmes said. “So, we’re just being thorough. We’ll be prepared. But I do like the fact that we can pretty much go any direction we want, and we can feel pretty good about it. Just get the right football player for us.”


Holmes spoke to the local media Thursday for his annual pre-draft news conference, and while he was understandably tight-lipped about Detroit’s plans, he did address some of the more pressing topics surrounding the team, and the ways this draft could inch the Lions closer to contender status.


Holmes on the QB conversation

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who’ve followed Holmes’ comments this offseason, but once again, quarterbacks were a topic of conversation. This comes on the heels of Detroit hosting two quarterback prospects — Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud — for visits this month, and a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Lions have made an offer to veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff said Tuesday while meeting with local media that he has been in communication with Holmes and coach Dan Campbell about the potential of another QB being added, though most of those conversations took place after the season. Goff also said there haven’t been talks about a contract extension for him, perhaps a sign the front office is taking a wait-and-see approach. But the Lions are doing their homework.

“When you’re picking in the top 10, you just want to make sure that you’re pretty thorough on the quarterback market, and I believe that we have done that,” Holmes said. “We have a good idea. There’s always going to be a surprise on draft night — that’s what makes it fun — but we’ll definitely be prepared. (We’ve) got an idea, but just don’t know where a curveball might be thrown.”


If the Lions are looking to draft a quarterback early, it could come down to whether there’s a prospect they like within striking distance, in addition to what the rest of the board looks like. But of course, there are options later in the draft, too.


Either way, whether it’s via the draft or free agency, expect the Lions to add a third QB to their room.

“Obviously, we like what Nate (Sudfeld) did,” Holmes said. “That’s why we signed him back. But we’re not pressed, we’re not pinched. If it works out, it lines up, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. We’ll be fine. We’ve got two quarterbacks on the roster now and we’ll definitely have a third at some point.”

The value of first-round RBs in today’s NFL
Holmes was part of the Rams’ scouting department in 2015, when the team drafted running back Todd Gurley 10th overall. That was eight years ago, however, and football tends to evolve over time. So how does Holmes view the running back position, and the idea of drafting one in the first round?

Doesn’t sound like his philosophy has changed a whole lot.


continued..

[whatever_gong82]

“I kind of just look at it as they’re all football players,” Holmes said. “If they can help you, they can help you. I understand the narrative around that, but if you think a player is that good and he’s out there producing for you, then I don’t think anyone is going to look back” and criticize the pick.

It’s a timely topic, considering the allure of Bijan Robinson — widely regarded as a top-five prospect in terms of talent — and the discussion on his true value. However, it’s not one that necessarily will impact the Lions. When the Rams drafted Gurley, they didn’t have much at the position. They ranked 20th in rushing yards per game the prior season. Their leading rusher was Tre Mason, who rushed for 765 yards overall and 63.8 per game. The Lions have D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery under contract for the 2023 season, which is a much more stable situation than the Rams had ahead of the 2015 draft.

But at the same time, Holmes said he doesn’t draft with a depth chart in mind. Passing on elite talent to fill a need elsewhere can gets teams in trouble. It doesn’t mean the Lions will select Robinson, but it does offer some insight into Holmes’ thought process on the RB position at-large.


Good players are good players.


The Jalen Carter decision


Come next Thursday, there’s a very real chance the Lions could be staring at one of the most talented prospects in the class at No. 6 overall, there for the taking. That would be Carter, who has been hailed as a difference-maker and potential game-wrecking interior presence. That’s something the Lions have been looking to fill for years now. Detroit brought Carter in for a pre-draft visit this week, hoping to learn a little bit more about him ahead of a potential decision.

So, then, how did he do?

“We enjoyed our time with him, did a nice job,” Holmes said. “I’ll say even after he left his visit, I felt better about him.”

Holmes didn’t offer a ton about Carter, so it’s probably not worth trying to read into his comments. But the Lions have gathered info on him. At the owners’ meetings in Phoenix last month, Campbell said he chatted with a teammate of Carter’s and got some “interesting” feedback, declining to further elaborate. Now Holmes is saying he feels “better” about Carter after his visit. But at the same time, teams like the Lions that are drafting in the top 10 will have to weigh whether Carter is worth the selection.


Last month, Carter faced two misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving following a police investigation into a crash that killed Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock on the morning of Jan. 15. Carter pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service, and must also complete a state-approved driving course. In addition to this, Carter’s lackluster pro day — in which he showed up nine pounds heavier than his combine weight and reportedly struggled to complete drills — will need to be further examined.

When asked if there comes a time when the Lions could draft a talented player with questions and hope he embraces the team’s culture, Holmes admitted it depends on a few variables.


“It just depends what those issues are with that player,” Holmes said. “Is it just a maturity thing he just needs to learn or is it this or that? … We like our locker room, we do feel like we have a good, strong locker room, so if you have a player who has some concerns, yeah, there are some guys you can bring in and it’s going to be fine. There are some guys that you might be like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know if it’s going to work.’ It’s just case-by-case always.”


The rare opportunity ahead

The Seahawks and Eagles are the other two teams with winning records picking in the top 10 this year, but neither can match the assets Detroit has at its disposal. It’s the only team with five of the top 81 selections in next week’s draft. Two firsts, two seconds and a third give Holmes a real chance to add talent to a playoff-caliber roster.

He doesn’t take it for granted.

“You definitely want to take advantage of having this kind of capital,” Holmes said. “You’re not going to put too much pressure on yourself, but it is a unique opportunity.”

Detroit can pretty much do whatever it wants next week, which is something Holmes has said on more than one occasion this offseason. There are few glaring holes on the roster. With nine selections, the Lions have a chance to add quality and future starters up and down the draft, trade up to maximize quality or trade down to increase the number of swings.

“Those opportunities don’t come every year, so you want to take advantage as much as you can,” Holmes said. “But again, we’re just focused on our process in this draft. Regardless of what we did in free agency, regardless of what we did at the end of the season, again, we’ve just got to stay aggressive still, keep our foot on the gas and make sure we’re acquiring the best players. But it does feel good that we have this opportunity with the capital that we have.”



Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions. He previously covered Michigan State football and basketball for the company, and covered sports for The Tennessean in Nashville prior to joining The Athletic. Follow Colton on Twitter @colton_pouncy

[froot loops]

Jameson Williams suspended 6 games, Cephus and CJ Moore released for gambling on non-NFL games at a NFL facility.

[GALion68]

Jameson Williams suspended 6 games, Cephus and CJ Moore released for gambling on non-NFL games at a NFL facility.

WTF? A big letdown from those players.

[Sanders Fan]

Gotta be smarter, guys. I saw they fired some staff members too.

[froot loops]

I've been skeptical of the Williams pick and this doesn't help.

[Da Geezer]

This will affect the Lion's Draft. They will need a top-flight receiver to take the top off defenses.

[ghandi]

I've been skeptical of the Williams pick and this doesn't help.

Same here....On draft day when they said "Detroit Lions select Jameson Williams" he did not look like he was very happy....well I guess this news brings back WR into the 18th pick discussion.

[Mainevent]

Trading up for an injured receiver was dicey, even a talented one. He’s also apparently a dumbass. DoD guys were just talking on their pod yesterday about maturity concerns, don’t know if they knew this was coming or not.

[CGVT]

Annnnnnd...this is why we can't have nice things around here.

Jesus.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...e/70137918007/

[whatever_gong82]

Annnnnnd...this is why we can't have nice things around here.

Jesus.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...e/70137918007/

Do anyone think that we'll draft Carter now??

Now we'll need to draft a WR with one of our draft picks next week.