Lions' Brad Holmes Accepts Best Draft Award

Scouts voted Detroit's 2023 class as best in NFL.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has received plenty of praise for his abilities in the NFL Draft since taking over in 2021. 

The GM has added several key players to his roster through the Draft, including Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Aidan Hutchinson. Yet, his performance in the 2023 Draft may wind up being his best. 

Holmes and his staff were awarded the 'Best Draft Award' on Friday by InsideTheLeague, as voted on by scouts across the league. 

InsideTheLeague is a service aimed at helping people in the football world by providing scouting and other resources for players, coaches and executives. Holmes, along with several of his scouts, accepted the award at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

Each of the Lions' first four picks wound up playing key roles in their rookie campaigns. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs finished with over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while fellow first-round pick Jack Campbell notched 95 tackles and two sacks. 

As for Detroit's pair of second-round picks, both Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch were day one starters for the organization. Branch had a game-changing pick-six in his NFL debut, setting the tone for a solid rookie campaign. 

LaPorta, meanwhile, enjoyed a record-setting first year in which he broke the previous best mark for receptions by a rookie tight end and was named a second-team All-Pro selection. 

He finished the regular season with 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 scores, performing at an elite level. 

The Lions also drafted Hendon Hooker, Brodric Martin, Colby Sorsdal and Antoine Green in 2023. Martin and Green played sparingly while spending time as healthy scratches, while Sorsdal made three starts at guard in place of Jonah Jackson. 

Congratulations to the Detroit #Lions, winners of the sixth annual Best Draft Award. Here's ITL's Neil Stratton with GM Brad Holmes and several members of the team's scouting staff. pic.twitter.com/CkkuPVG5W4

— Neil Stratton (@InsideTheLeague) March 1, 2024