The Detroit Lions are roaring back into relevance, and much of the credit is deservedly being placed on the shoulders of their front office, led by General Manager Brad Holmes. A recent survey conducted by The Athletic polled 35 high-ranking NFL executives and five coaches, and the results were overwhelmingly positive for Detroit's brass. The Lions were ranked fifth overall, just behind the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles, as per Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit.
“If you asked: Who is the No. 1 GM in the league right now, this minute? It might be him,” one anonymous general manager said, referring to Brad Holmes. “I love the demeanor, love what he stands for” Sporting News.
Holmes’ track record in the draft speaks volumes. Since taking over, he’s brought in substantial talent, including Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Sam LaPorta, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Notably, Holmes’ 2023 NFL Draft class received rave reviews, earning him accolades such as “NFL Executive of the Year” from the Pro Football Writers of America and the same title from his peers. Pride of Detroit.
But the admiration extends beyond shrewd draft picks. The Lions’ front office has been lauded for developing a unique culture and identity. “Detroit has done a great job of figuring out their style and getting guys who fit that in the draft and free agency,” an NFC executive mentioned. This sentiment was echoed by another league insider who added, “Detroit has done a nice job building it in their own image, which is unique to everybody else” Sporting News.
The alliance between Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell has been instrumental in Detroit’s resurgence. They have established a team culture that is unwavering and particular to their vision. The result? A franchise on a steady rise since 2021, now poised to compete for a Super Bowl. As one executive put it, “While they have rightly already garnered plenty of respect, Holmes and Campbell can catapult themselves to another level if the Lions can get over the hump and win a Super Bowl in 2024” Sporting News.
Considering the praise from peers and the quantifiable success, the Detroit Lions front office—armed with the strategic acumen of Brad Holmes and the unwavering vision of Dan Campbell—looks to be one of the brightest in the NFL. The roar in Motor City is real, and for once, it seems poised to reverberate into the postseason and beyond.
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Where Detroit Lions' front office landed in rankings by NFL coaches, execs from Sporting News
Detroit Lions’ front office one of the best, per NFL executive survey from Jeremy Reisman, Pride Of Detroit