Allen Park — The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and in preparation for the event, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes met with the media in Allen Park on Monday to discuss the Lions’ offseason thus far, as well as some topics surrounding the draft.
Here are three big takeaways from Holmes’ media availability:
How older draft classes impact Lions’ strategy
The lingering impacts of the COVID waivers that gave college athletes an extra year of eligibility are set to expire in the near future, but the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era has still fundamentally changed the draft. Underclassmen no longer feel compelled to prematurely enter the draft, thanks to the financial opportunities now provided in college. In some cases, it’s more lucrative to be a college star than a middle-round NFL draft pick.
Team president and CEO Rod Wood touched on it during his final league meetings press conference last month, saying the league has held discussions about “the whole changing landscape of college football and what that may do to people that are coming into the NFL that are older.”
Holmes elaborated on that sentiment Monday in Allen Park, touching on both how it affects a player’s evaluation and the outlook beyond their first contract.
“You have to start adjusting, as well, because like you said, these kids are staying in a much longer time, so you’re going to get some older prospects,” Holmes said. “Maybe certain positions, that maturity helps. Sometimes it may be a little bit more of a warning sign. But it is something that we’ve adjusted to.”
As for the conflict of drafting a player who could be 30 years old by their second contract, Holmes said that consideration is “real.”
“Say like, look, the guy is 24 or 25 years old now, he’s going to be looking at 30 by the time the second contract comes. OK, so how much longevity (does he have)?” Holmes said. “Maybe he hadn’t played a long time and he doesn’t have as much wear and tear. But, you know, father time is father time, too. But you have to look at all of it, and again, it’s case by case.
“But it is real, though.”
When will ‘financial constraints’ end?
In a Lions Collective podcast episode detailing the Lions’ approach to free agency, Holmes repeatedly referred to the “financial constraints” that limited Detroit to just one multi-year deal. The Lions have multiple market-resetting deals around the corner for players like running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, linebacker Jack Campbell and defensive back Brian Branch. The future cap commitments, Holmes said, have prevented them from being big players in free agency.
The Lions have been living in this world for a few years now — Holmes gave a whole personal finance analogy during last year’s annual league meetings — but it begs the question of how long they’ll feel handcuffed by the money owed to their drafted players. Some extensions, like the ones for wide receiver Jameson Williams and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, won’t even kick in until years down the road.
Is this their indefinite reality? Holmes said there are mechanisms to alleviate some of the financial pressure, such as trades, but he is generally not sweating the bind his roster is in, calling it a good problem to have.
“Every single year is different. You just don’t know. But yeah, there were some things that we are currently navigating through, but I do think that they’re good problems that we are navigating through,” Holmes said.
“I would much rather have the good problems that we have to navigate through, whatever the term I used, financial constraints, whatever it is. But at the end of the day, I’d rather have those problems than the other way. But it could change. I don’t know what next year is going to bring, but we’ll be prepared, and we’ll adjust.”
Lions don’t feel compelled to target offensive tackle, defensive end
The Lions took an emphatic step to fill their hole at center by signing Cade Mays to a three-year deal, but filled their other two big positions of need — offensive tackle and edge defender — with one-year deals. DJ Wonnum appears to be in line to start at defensive end if the season started today, while Larry Borom would be in line to start at right tackle with Penei Sewell moving to the left side.
Holmes said those two additions are enough to make him feel the team doesn’t need to find another starting-caliber player at either position.
“I thought Borom put out good tape this year. … I don’t have a crystal ball, but from the last thing I saw on tape, I do think that he’s got starter-level ability, and same as Wonnum,” Holmes said.
“You’re talking about guys that have been starters in the NFL. But just kind of look at where the trend is going, where the arrow is going the last time, they’re still young. But we feel good about both of them, so we don’t feel like…we have to supplement them.”
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 3 big takeaways from Lions GM Brad Holmes’ pre-draft press conference
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
