'Scary' scenario led Lions GM Brad Holmes to consider Round 1 swap

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As the anxiety started to bubble, he began to consider a trade that would allow the Lions to move up a few slots to get Miller and avoid another team leaping past the Lions to swipe him. After all, Holmes knew that the widespread perception from the outside was that the Lions were in the market for a long-term solution at tackle following the release of perennial starter Taylor Decker in March. Would he be forced to head off Miller’s potential suitors by making a preemptive move?

“We talked to teams up, way up, and tried to see if we can be at peace with what the capital is that you would have to expend,” Holmes said. "Yeah, we definitely explored strongly about trading up."

But Holmes never pulled the trigger. When the Los Angeles Rams defied most prospect rankings and selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, his fears subsided.

“I felt pretty good that we would be able to keep our assets and still land Blake,” Holmes said.

In the past, Holmes has not been afraid to wheel and deal early in the draft. In 2022, he moved up to snatch receiver Jameson Williams with the 12th overall selection. A year later, he traded from No. 6 to that very same slot before taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Then, in 2024, he executed a pick swap with the Dallas Cowboys that allowed the Lions to jump five spots and grab cornerback Terrion Arnold at No. 24.

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On Thursday, Holmes revealed the Lions received one call “to move back.” In the days prior, he also had some exploratory conversations about potential trades. But Holmes implied they weren’t deep – more about “feeling things out.”

In the end, it was all just talk. The Lions didn’t make a deal, but Holmes still got his guy, which brought a peaceful end to a night when the general manager's stress spiked for a bit.

“When you think about Blake Miller, you can sleep easy,” Holmes said. “You can sleep very, very good at night.”

Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes considered trading up in 2026 NFL Draft