Takeaways from Brad Holmes' Combine Media Session

Here are the main takeaways from Brad Holmes' combine media session.

INDIANAPOLIS — The second day of GM and head coach podium press conferences at the 2023 scouting combine wrapped up Wednesday with Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.

Here are five main takeaways from what Brad Holmes said to the media in attendance. 

1.) The possibility of trading the sixth overall selection

As a result of the trade that sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams, the Lions ended up with the sixth overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft to go along with their own pick at number 18.

Holmes was asked whether he anticipated getting some phone calls this week about the possibility of moving that sixth overall pick.

"Yeah, you just always want to be prepared as best as possible. There's not a scenario that we don't look at. That started long ago in terms of when we knew with the picks that we had," said Holmes. "We're still in kind of evaluation process of trying to place those guys (in) the right buckets or in the right tiers, but we're still acquiring information on them. But, yeah, once you get down this upcoming month here in March, and then always through April, we will play through every scenario and we'll be prepared to do whatever we need to do."

2.) The tight end group and the Hockenson “trade”

In discussing the possible need for a tight end in the aftermath of the mid-season trade that sent T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings, Holmes took the opportunity to fire back at those who criticized or complained about the trade at the time it was made.
"Yeah, we got a good young corps of tight ends that really contributed, believe set a franchise record for touchdowns at the tight end position collectively as a group," said Holmes. "But I'm glad that the T.J. Hockenson trade is being called a trade now because it was kind of ‘wave the white flag kind of deal’ at the time when it happened. But, yeah, again, we're always looking to add.”

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3.) The quarterback position

Exactly how it’s going to happen remains uncertain, but Holmes made clear the Lions have to find a backup quarterback for Jared Goff.

The possibility of selecting a potential quarterback of the future in the first round with one of the two picks also isn’t out of the question, per Holmes.

"I've been pretty clear and I've had this conversation with Jared — look, we love Jared, he's our starter,” Holmes said. “He's our guy going, but we don't have anything behind him. I thought Nate (Sudfeld) did a nice job when we got him, but he's a UFA as well. So again, we got to make sure that we address everything, again, whether it's free agency and through the draft, but yeah, it could very well be through the draft. We don't know what's going to happen free agency and I'm sure if some of those guys at the quarterback position free agency might not be ready to make a decision.

"I feel like last year we kind of left training camp kind of sliding into home plate trying to fill that backup quarterback role. That's on me. I’ve got to do a better job of making sure that we're not in that position again. So that is something that we're going to need to address whether it's here in free agency or upcoming in the draft. That's something that we've had a lot of conversations about, but I’ve got to do a better job of making sure we get that rectified."

4.) Jameson Williams almost like having yet another first-round pick

Given that Jameson Williams didn’t make his NFL debut until December and played only six games after recovering from a torn ACL, you could argue he’ll be almost like a rookie in 2023.

That brought up the idea that it’s almost like another first-round pick for the Lions this year.

"I guess that's a good way to put it. It's kind of like a brand new first-round pick. The goal when we originally drafted him, we didn't know really how much we were going to get out of him, but it was good to have him get some kind of game experience to kind of feel the speed of the game. But, yeah, we're just gonna continue to do everything that we need to do to make sure that he's set up to succeed. Jameson also has to hold his part and make sure that he's doing everything that he needs to do so. He's got rare talent, rare ability. He's got a serious passion for the game and, yeah, we expect big things from him. But obviously we’ve got to do both our parts to make sure he's set up to succeed."

5.) Levi Onzuwurike update

Holmes provided a progress report on defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, who missed the entire 2022 season with a back injury after arriving as a second-round pick in the 2021 draft.

“Levi is still progressing. He’s continuing to rehab. I saw him at the facility right before I left, so he's right on track and we'll see where it goes. He's still on his rehab track, but we'll just kind of see how it goes. But we'll be smart with it."