“I'm a firm believer still that intangibles are the separators of success.” - Brad Holmes
Like most diehard Lions fans, you probably have a short list of players you would love to see in Honolulu blue. Also like most diehard Lions fans, you can probably throw that list away on draft night because Brad Holmes doesn't care who you like in the draft.
Love isn't blind for Brad Holmes; he's got to see it, and he knows it when he sees it.
"There's no level of talent that is worth bringing something that doesn't fit what we're about in there."
Both Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell consistently stress the importance of a player fitting the culture they have built within the team. So what exactly does fit what they are "about" in Detroit?
Based on interviews, three years of draft picks, and several offseasons worth of signings, here is Brad Holmes Draft Prospect Checklist. If a prospect doesn't meet a bare minimum of four of the seven traits below, they aren't likely to be on Brad Holmes' draft board.
Love of Football (required)
If there's one thing you know about what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell look for in a player, it's probably the first two items on this list:
You have to LOVE football.
You have to have grit.
A love of football can separate a good and a great player. When it's all a player thinks about and focuses on, it can set them apart from someone who may be more talented but is less dedicated. Showing a love for football is an absolute requirement for a Brad Holmes draft prospect.
Grit
It's on t-shirts, hats, printed on the walls, it's even used in official team hashtages (#allgrit) -- grit is a significant part of this team's identity. Brad Holmes looks for prospects with a high motor that play violent. When you see a defensive lineman take plays off or gingerly begin to walk downfield on a live play, you can almost guarantee they will never be a Detroit Lion.
Football IQ
Not only does a Holmes prospect need to love football, they need to know it. Prospect interviews, as seen in several episodes of Inside the Den, are intense and focus on uncovering a deep level of football intelligence. Position coaches quiz prospects on their thought process, technique, and what they would do in specific situations.
Positional Versatility
Unless a prospect is absolutely dominant within their specific role or a late-round draft pick, Brad Holmes is unlikely to invest resources into them. When you look at past draft picks like Josh Paschal, Alim McNeill, Brian Branch, Colby Sorsdal, and even Jahmyr Gibbs, you see positional versatility. Each of those players can line up in several spots, which keeps opposing teams guesing and provides additional depth if and when needed.
Leadership
This team is absolutely stacked with leaders in nearly every single position group. Even recently signed defensive tackle D.J. Reader was a two-time team captain in Cincinnati before coming to Detroit. Recent draft picks, from Josh Paschal (three-time team captain) to Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell, are almost all former team captains with a natural ability to lead their teammates. When looking for a Brad Holmes draft prospect, look for a C on the front of their uniform.
Special Skills
Having a special set of skills isn't only valuable for Liam Neeson. A large number of Detroit Lions have special skills, which often include a playing a wide variety of sports before dedicating all of their athletic efforts to football. 300-pound defensive lineman Alim McNeill played in the outfield for his varsity baseball team and LB Malcolm Rodriguez is a two-time state champion wrestler in the state of Oklahoma.
Relevant Athleticism
While Dan Campbell doesn't put a lot of stock in the "underwear olympics," also known as the combine, Brad Holmes and the Lions front office do value athleticism that is relevant to the player's specific role. Just look at the RAS scores of Detroit Lions draft picks.
For example, Brad Holmes discussed the importance of a defensive backs athleticism and ability to be agile in order to cover elite receivers. While a prospect's 40 time shows their straightline speed, the 3-cone drill is a better measure of a player's agility.
BONUS: Value
"Brad Holmes loves injured players."
False. Brad Holmes loves a good value. Brad Holmes often selects and/or signs players who are coming off injuries because they can be acquired at a better value. For example, in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jameson Williams was the hands-down best receiving prospect in the draft, but since he was coming off a serious injury, he fell to #12, which allowed Brad Holmes to trade up to select him.
If a player can be acquired at a price or with a draft pick lower than what was once expected, Brad Holmes just might pounce. We saw this again in 2023 when Brad Holmes traded up several spots to stop Brian Branch's fall into the mid-second round.
What did we miss? Let us know on X @RoarRoundup.
Also Read:
Diving Into Brad's Pick History (The Den War Room)
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