Detroit Lions sticking with Best Player Available method in NFL draft

Brad Holmes built the Detroit Lions by going Best Player Available in his first few drafts as general manager and that’s not about to change now that his team has the top-line talent to be Super Bowl contenders.

Holmes said in his annual pre-draft news conference Monday, April 13, that he’ll still prioritize long-term potential over filling immediate needs in next week’s draft.

The Lions have the 17th pick in the first round, and nine selections overall.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes speaks at the NFL scouting combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Feb. 24, 2026.

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“The reason why we always go the best player available approach is because there is only one draft and the roster’s going to change every single year,” Holmes said. “Every single year, it’s going to be new needs, it’s going to be, contracts are going to expire and things are going to happen. So what may not seem as an immediate, ‘I need this right now for this year,’ that might not be the case for the next year. So, that’s what’s been our approach on that.”

Holmes inherited one of the worst rosters in the NFL in 2021 and stocked it with stars in his first three drafts by casting a wide net by position.

He made layups at the top of his first two drafts with offensive tackle Penei Sewell and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, eschewed positional value to take running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell in the 2023 first round and hit big on several Day 2 and 3 selections.

Drafting wasn’t easy then, but the Lions had few cornerstone players at the time who would block a rookie’s playing time and development.

Now, the Lions have Pro Bowl players at every level on offense and defense – Campbell, Gibbs, Hutchinson, Sewell, Brian Branch, Jared Goff, , Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown – and more pointed areas in need of an upgrade.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) makes a catch against Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) during the first half at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

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Holmes said there may be times when the best player available aligns with need, but he won’t veer from his draft board to make that happen.

“We have had a lot of evolution from the first time, but the one thing that has not changed and has stayed consistent is the film,” Holmes said. “And that’s first and foremost. That’s the reason why we’re acquiring these players is to be good football players. So that part really hasn’t evolved, that part hasn’t changed, but we’ve definitely made a lot of evolutions in other areas.”

This year, some of the Lions’ biggest immediate needs – offensive tackle and defensive end, especially – match up with perceived areas of strength in the draft while they may have longer-term needs at positions that once seemed stocked (safety, cornerback, tight end and linebacker).

As many as seven offensive linemen could go in Round 1, and several – Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Clemson’s Blake Miller, Penn State’s Vega Ioane, perhaps even Utah’s Spencer Fano – project to come off the board near where the Lions pick at 17.

Monroe Freeling #57 of the Georgia Bulldogs blocks Chris Murray #3 of the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama.

At defensive end, the top three pass rushers likely will be gone before the Lions pick in the first round, but NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah called the position the strength of this year’s draft with potential starters available well into the second and third rounds.

Holmes declined to offer detailed thoughts on this year’s draft class in his news conference Monday and wouldn’t say how many players have first-round grades on the Lions’ board.

He said he considers free-agent additions right tackle Larry Borom and defensive end DJ Wonnum capable starters; he also said he likes the rest of what he was able to do in free agency adding a starting center in Cade Mays and depth on defense.

“I feel like we did the best we could and we maximized the resources that we had available,” Holmes said. “That’s my job to do that, and I think that we accomplished that.”

Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him atdbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him onBluesky,XandInstagramat @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: No change in Detroit Lions NFL Draft plan despite clearer needs