Brad Holmes' 5 worst picks as Detroit Lions GM

Here's the thing, though – Williams was, charitably, the third-most impactful player from Detroit's 2025 draft class, behind second-round pick Tate Ratledge and third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa. That would be OK if Williams played up to his first-round billing, but he only started 10 games last year, and not because he was hurt for the other seven.

There's still plenty of time for him to grow into his role, but the Lions are hoping he takes a king-sized step in 2025 to cement a starring role on the defensive interior.

No. 4: Terrion Arnold, CB (2024 first round, 24th overall)

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) reacts to a block against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.

Terrion Arnold was the team’s most penalized player and arguably its worst regular defensive back in his rookie season in 2024. And to his credit, he played much better when healthy in 2025 and was sorely missed in a depleted secondary for the last few games of the season.

But even taking his injury issues into account, Arnold hasn't lived up to his first-round billing. And though we don't know what the fallout from his alleged ties to a Florida kidnapping will be, the best-case scenario still doesn't look flattering. While the jury is still out on Williams, Arnold is pretty clearly Holmes' worst-performing first-round selection so far.

No. 3: Brodric Martin (2023 third round, 96th overall)

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (99) shown on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.

Of the 18 players Holmes has selected in the first three rounds of the draft, only four are no longer with the Lions – quarterback Hendon Hooker (more on him in a second), defensive end Josh Paschal (injuries), defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu (started eight games for Miami in 2025) and defensive tackle Brodric Martin. And of those four, Martin stands out in a bad way.

Martin played in only five games for the Lions in his two seasons in Detroit from 2023-24, starting only once and recording four tackles. His last chance to make the team came during the 2025 preseason, but Martin didn't show much on the field before the Lions cut him.

Holmes has hit on third-round picks before, most notably with defensive tackle Alim McNeil in 2021 and safety Kerby Joseph in 2022. But Martin was unquestionably a miss.

No. 2: Gio Manu, OL (2024 fourth round, 126th overall)

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu blocks during the second half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

There’s hardly such a thing as a bad fourth-round selection, and the 6-7, 350-pound offensive tackle was at least an interesting pick in 2024. But time is running out on the Giovanni Manu experiment.

The Lions and Manu agreed to treat 2024 as the 24-year-old rookie’s “redshirt year,” as Manu still had much to learn about the game. And when Manu got his first snaps in 2025 while replacing an injured Taylor Decker, he often looked overwhelmed an incapable of handling an important position.

It says enough that the Lions have an immediate and urgent need for a starting tackle, but no signs indicate that the team is willing to hand the reigns to Manu. His ceiling may be as a backup, and only if the Lions are willing to continue with this project.

No. 1: Hendon Hooker, QB (2023 third round, 68th overall)

Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker practices during the organized team activities in Allen Park on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

There is no consensus opinion when it comes to backup quarterback strategy in the NFL, but there are a couple go-to formulas, especially for teams with already-established starting quarterbacks. There’s the expensive veteran backup, a good option for a team that needs immediate legitimacy should the starter miss time. Then there’s the raw but toolsy prospect that might need a few years of bench time to prepare for a starting role.

The trouble with Hooker is that he doesn’t fit either profile. Hooker, coming off a torn ACL in college, never had enough buzz to warrant an early-round prognostication when he was drafted. Instead, Hooker sat on the roster without much of a path to a starting role and without enough experience to warrant trust as a backup.

So it wasn't a surprise that the Lions cut Hooker after a disappointing 2025 preseason, nor is it a surprise that three other teams have given him a chance since. But his only playing time came over three games in 2024, making him arguably the least impactful Brad Holmes pick relative to his draft position.

Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!

You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes' 5 worst NFL draft picks