The NFL Draft is a week away and that means it's time for Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes' annual pre-draft press conference. Holmes talked about a variety of topics related to next week's NFL Draft.
Here are all the key questions from that media session:
Have the Lions gotten any phone calls for the No. 28 pick?
The end of the first round can be a popular spot for teams wanting to trade back into the first round for a player to get the additional fifth year on the rookie contract.
We'll likely see some of those deals materialize later on draft night, but as of a week out, Holmes said he hasn't received any phone calls from teams interested in their No. 28 pick.
Why does Holmes reiterate he'll never draft on positional need?
Needs change every year depending on contract status and injury, and Holmes doesn't believe in chasing those needs in the draft year after year. He thinks it's a dangerous cycle when teams operate that way.
"It's why I've been more of a just get the best player," he said. "Like look, we loved (Ennis) Rakestraw. Unfortunately, he just wasn't as healthy, so he wasn't able to help as much last year. But we're really excited and looking forward to what he's going to bring this year."
Holmes took Rakestraw in the second round last year (61st overall) after trading for a cornerback earlier in the offseason, signing a cornerback in free agency and drafting one in the first round. Rakestraw was the best player on the board at the draft slot. Simple as that.
Holmes is excited about Rakestraw heading into Year 2, and if Rakestraw steps up big the way the Lions think he can, Detroit's in a really good spot with terrific talent and depth at the position.
"There's just a level of patience you have to (have)," Holmes said. "When you start chasing need, it's like that need might make sense for right now at this time. We make these picks for future investments. We kind of live in a society that everything is, 'Right now! Right now! Right now!' And I understand it, too. From when a player gets drafted and so much fascination is made about the draft, people are excited about it. People want to see it right now. They don't want to wait and be patient."
It required patience when the Lions moved from pick No. 32 to No. 12 in 2022 to take wide receiver Jameson Williams knowing Williams wasn't going to help right away coming off a knee injury. Williams was a player they wanted, not a player they needed at the time, and now he's become a core player on offense.
"I think you can get in trouble chasing needs sometimes, and then you're depending on a rookie," he said. "You do the best you can, but nobody has a crystal ball. So, it can be a tough world to live in."
Holmes made it clear he'll never draft based on his depth chart. He isn't in the business of reaching on a player to fill a need.
Speaking of moving up, could Holmes take a similar leap up in the first round to take a prospect they really like next Thursday?
Interestingly, Holmes said the move up 20 spots in 2022 for Williams wasn't the only time he tried to significantly move up in the first round for a player. Holmes didn't mention the year or the player but said a move up like that also takes a willing trade partner who doesn't mind moving significantly back.
"There's just some teams that don't want to go that far back," Holmes said. "It takes two. So, it's hard to say like, 'Man, we should do this.' And even if we do there's no telling that the other team is willing to go back."
Holmes certainly seems open to the possibility if the prospect is right.
What does Holmes think of this year's pass rush class overall?
Holmes didn't want to talk about specific players but he does think it's a good class overall. Draft analysts have called this year's defensive line class one of the most talented and deep in the last decade.
"There's some good football players there," Holmes said.
He also repeated comments made at the Annual League Meetings earlier this month when he said he likes the talent and depth they've built along their defensive line and feels good about their pass rush.
View photos of the top edge rusher prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Oregon defensive end Jordan Burch (1) dodges California offensive lineman Barrett Miller (62) during the first half of an NCAA football game against California, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 63-19.(AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Oregon defensive lineman Jordan Burch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) during the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff game against Boise State, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) sacks Southern California quarterback Miller Moss (7) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct.12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku (6) defends against SMU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in University Park, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Boston College defensive lineman Donovan Ezeiruaku participates in a drill during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisville defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte (9) pursues Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond (11) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Chestnut Hill, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
Louisville defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
National team defensive lineman Mike Green of Marshall (15) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Marshall defensive lineman Mike Green lifts weights at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Arkansas defensive lineman Landon Jackson (40) runs a play against Mississippi during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas defensive lineman Landon Jackson participates in a drill during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
LSU defensive end Sai'vion Jones (35) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
LSU defensive end Sai'vion Jones runs through drills during the school's NFL football pro day in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) lines up for a play during an NCAA football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas won 19-14. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina edge Kyle Kennard (5) plays against Vanderbilt during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) rushes during the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Texas, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Ohio State defensive lineman Jack Sawyer runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M's Nic Scourton (11) celebrates a defensive stop during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas edge defender Barryn Sorrell (88) rushes Georgia quarterback Carson Beck during the first half an NCAA football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Texas defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart (4) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Michigan defensive end Josaiah Stewart (5) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Michigan defensive end Josaiah Stewart (0) celebrates after sacking Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene, bottom, in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau celebrates after tackling Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau runs a drill during the school's NFL football pro day, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Mississippi defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) rushes against Duke, during the second half of the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Mississippi defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) follows a play against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sets up for a play against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
National team defensive lineman David Walker of Central Arkansas (33) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams (13) sets up for a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia's Mykel Williams runs a drill during the school's NFL Pro Day, Wednesday, March, 12, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Are the Lions in a position now to take another project prospect that's not expected to contribute right away?
Last year, that player was fourth-round tackle Giovanni Manu, who the Lions knew had a lot of developing to do jumping from the University of British Columbia to the NFL. The Lions loved Manu's frame and skillset but knew the adjustment to the NFL would take some time. Manu was inactive every game as a rookie.
"It has to be the right developmental upside guy that might not be ready to go," Holmes said. "Because there's a ton of them in every draft. Manu was just one of those guys that was really appealing and had a lot of love for in the process and we were in a position to take him."
It always just comes down to a player having the right intangibles and being a long-term fit. The Lions have a roster with Super Bowl aspirations, but Holmes said he won't hesitate to take a project player they feel really good about if that's the best move at the draft slot they're at.
Has Holmes had time to reflect back at all on the six Pro Bowlers he's selected in the draft the last four years?
That list includes: Tackle Penei Sewell (2021), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021), defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (2022), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (2023), tight end Sam LaPorta (2023) and defensive back Brian Branch (2023). And don't forget safety Kerby Joseph (2022), who didn't make the Pro Bowl last year but was named first team All-Pro.
The team has done a terrific job building the young core of this Lions football team through the draft and Holmes made clear it's been a team effort.
"First of all, it's not just us acquiring the player," he said. "It takes everybody. We can identify the talent, but we have great coaches that I've said often can accelerate development and get the most out of these players. I think we have the right people in the building just from a football leadership perspective and we're all working as one and we're all on the same page."
Holmes said he takes more pride in that fact than anything else.
Is Za'Darius Smith still joining the roster before the 2025 season still an option?
Holmes and Smith's representation haven't had any additional conversations since Holmes last talked at the league meetings a few weeks back.
He and Smith's agent have an understanding that the two will stay in contact and they'll inform Holmes of any potential changes in Smith's status. It doesn't seem that door is completely closed just yet.
What is the biggest lesson Holmes has learned from his previous four years running Detroit's draft?
The two biggest things are staying patient and trying to see the big picture.
"Just kind of seeing the big picture in terms of not being as anxious because of where we are as a roster," he said.
