The Detroit Lions have the seventh-best General Manager in the NFL. NBC Sports analyst Patrick Daugherty ranked the best GMs in the NFL, and got to number seven when he mentioned Brad Holmes.
Holmes has only been with the Lions since 2021, but he has completely turned the roster around. Detroit had 32 wins in the five seasons before Holmes was hired. Holmes gave the Lions 48 wins in the five years following that, and that includes a three-win first season where the rebuild started. The past four years have almost certainly been the best run this franchise has had in the Super Bowl era.
Brad Holmes has Rebuilt the Detroit Lions Through the NFL Draft
One of the great strengths of Holmes has been his ability to draft. Holmes has hit a few home runs in recent drafts to help turn the franchise around.
The first pick in his first draft was Penei Sewell, and the first pick in his next draft was Aiden Hutchinson. They have two of the best players at their positions, and their positions are two of the more valuable spots in all of the sport.
His first draft also included star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, along with Alim McNeil, Levi Onwurzurike, and Derrick Barnes. Other successful picks include Jameson Williams, Kerby Joseph, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch. All of those players became starters, and most of them are near the top of their position in impact.
However, Daugherty wrote that the reason he has Holmes seventh and not higher is that his past couple of drafts have not been the same.
GettyBrad Holmes was hired by the Lions from the Rams
Brad Holmes Must Sustain Success for a Higher Ranking
It is impossible to judge the 2025 draft, but 2024 has featured more misses than hits. Terrion Arnold has not had the same first-round success as his other picks, while Ennis Rakestraw has hardly played. In 2025, they traded up and reached for Isaac TeSlaa, who flashed in moments but was overall not very effective. His first two picks were Tyliek Williams and Tate Ratledge, who are fine players, but bring less ceiling than his recent high swings.
Not getting the same boom and seeing teams start to pluck away at the coaches and players that Holmes brought in led to the Lions going from a three-year ascension in wins back to missing the playoffs in 2025. Detroit is expected to be in the playoff mix again this year, but it is fair to point out.
Still, four of the six names ahead of Holmes include Howie Roseman of the Eagles, John Schneider of the Seahawks, Les Snead of the Rams, and Brett Veach of the Chiefs. All of them have Super Bowl rings, and everyone but Snead has at least two rings. It is going to be hard for Holmes to shoot above those names without a deeper postseason run.
Still, he is behind Eric DeCosta of the Ravens, and most notably Brian Gutenkunst of the rival Packers. These two have brought more sustained success, which is what Holmes needs.
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