Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes spoke to the media Thursday for his annual end-of-season press conference.
Holmes detailed the many positives we saw from the Lions in 2024 from the franchise best 15-2 record, back-to-back NFC North championships and their undefeated record on the road, but he was also honest in admitting the team fell short of their ultimate goal.
"Obviously fell short of the goals we set out to accomplish this year and it stung. It's humbling," Holmes said. "But won't let it discredit our positives we were able to accomplish as well this season."
Holmes touched on a number of topics, and here are my five biggest takeaways:
1. Holmes is committed to the process
Holmes is committed to staying the course and building this roster like he has been the last four years. The outside narrative is that Detroit is in their 'Super Bowl window' and need to approach the offseason with a win-now mindset. That's not how Holmes built the roster and it's not how he's going to operate moving forward.
"Nothing is going to kind of alter what our approach has been in terms of trying to continue to improve and keeping building," Holmes said. "Obviously, I do think we're very close. Obviously felt really good about this season. Fell short, but we're going to stay committed to the process."
It's that process that got them Penei Sewell (24 years old), Amon-Ra St. Brown (25), Jahmyr Gibbs (22), Aidan Hutchinson (24), Alim McNeill (24), Brian Branch (23), Kerby Joseph (24) and countless others who have become the young core of this football team, along with quarterback Jared Goff (30).
"I don't think you can be a prisoner of the moment and make all these crazy wholesale changes," Holmes said. "I just think all the pieces are in place that I don't really feel walls closing."
Holmes will assess and evolve the roster, but in a way that is consistent with his long-standing belief on the best way to build a roster being draft and develop.
2. Injuries were a challenge
There were a bunch of firsts for Holmes and his personnel staff because of the attrition the Lions faced this season due to injury, especially on defense.
Holmes had never traded for a pass rusher at the deadline, and he said he learned a lot going through that process in acquiring Za'Darius Smith.
He also was never forced to claim three players on the same day off other teams' practice squads, which he had to do in December with Myles Adams, Kwon Alexander and Jonah Williams. Another learning experience.
If nothing else, what the Lions went through this season reaffirms Holmes' belief that they need to be heavily concentrated on building the depth of the roster. What is the roster going to look like in November and December after some injuries?
Instead of paying a lot for a top free agent, Holmes would rather get a couple quality depth players.
"It actually kind of fuels me," Holmes said of the 16 players that ended the season on IR. "It fueled our personnel department as the attrition piled up to like, 'What are you going to do about it?'"
Holmes credited his staff with finding players who fit and the coaching staff for getting them ready to play, which in some cases meant just three days after joining the team.
3. Holmes has full confidence Dan Campbell will assemble a terrific coaching staff
Holmes was actually pretty shocked they were able to retain both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn for this season. Johnson was recently named the new head coach of the Chicago Bears and Glenn the new head coach for the New York Jets.
"I know Dan has been preparing for it," Holmes said of the loss of both their offensive and defensive coordinators. "I have full faith and trust in Dan to make sure we are going to have the right people in place."
What qualities make up the right fit for those jobs in Holmes' opinion?
"I think he's going to have to be adaptable. I think he's going to have to be smart. He's going to have to be able to adjust," Holmes said. "Make sure he's putting the players in the best position to succeed."
4. Goff will be just fine with a new offensive coordinator
Holmes didn't buy for a second that the loss of Johnson in particular would have any effect on the play of Goff, who was named a finalist for NFL MVP on Thursday.
Holmes said as long as Campbell is the head coach and he's the general manager, the schemes are not going to change and neither will the core principles in which they play by and have won with.
Campbell said earlier this week Goff will have input into who the next offensive coordinator will be. Goff is an experienced quarterback in the prime of his career and Holmes doesn't see that changing at all when a new coordinator comes in.
"Obviously, he was very productive with Ben as a coordinator," Holmes said of Goff. "But he had a lot of prior success before he even got here as well in a completely different system. I think he's a better quarterback and more mature quarterback now than he was then. I don't foresee (Goff taking a step back)."
5. Offensive line will always be a priority
Detroit had one of the best offensive lines in football this season and Holmes is set on making sure that continues to be the focal point on offense.
"That's the engine for us," Holmes said. "It's too important not only for our team, our quarterback, everything. It's our identity."
Starting right guard Kevin Zeitler is a free agent this offseason, so Holmes will have to decide what to do there. Is Christian Mahogany ready to step into a starting role? Can Giovanni Manu make the leap to compete for playing time? Will they add to the group in free agency or the NFL Draft? Whatever they decide, Holmes will be sure to make it a priority.
