One year ago, every Lions fan seemed to be calling for Brad Holmes to have a statue built outside of Ford Field. Much of that was due to the Lions finally winning meaningful games but also, Holmes was drafting impact players such as Brian Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. The famous phrase was “Let Brad Cook!”
The Lions let Brad cook but because he didn’t win a Super Bowl this season, there’s been plenty of fans calling for Holmes to improve the recipe. Specifically with developing a dominant defense. Much of this is the reaction is due to what the Philadelphia Eagles did with their defense this season.
Before we go any further, can everyone take a breath for a second?
Comparing what the Lions are building on defense is different from what the Eagles have been building on defense. The same goes for any other team you want to compare and contrast to the Lions.
We should all know that.
But using the Super Bowl Champions as the example. Let’s go ahead and compare both defenses. Specifically, their defensive lines. In the process, let’s remember we’re using two different timelines between the Eagles and the Lions.
Howie Roseman became the General Manager (GM) of the Eagles in 2010. As we all know, Brad Holmes became the GM of the Lions in the winter of 2021. Here’s how Holmes constructed the Lions defensive line:
- 2021: DE Levi Onwuzurike — 2nd Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, DT Alim McNeill — 3rd Round of the 2021 NFL Draft
- 2022: DE Aidan Hutchinson — 1st Round of the 2022 NFL Draft, DE Josh Paschal — 2nd Round of the 2022 NFL Draft, DE/LB James Houston — 6th Round of the 2022 NFL Draft
- 2023: DT Brodric Martin — 3rd Round of the 2023 NFL Draft
- 2024: DT Mekhi Wingo — 6th Round of the 2024 NFL Draft
In total, Holmes has drafted 7 defensive lineman in his four seasons with the Lions. Additionally, he’s spent draft capital by trading for player such as Za’Darius Smith at this year’s trade deadline. When he’s not using draft capital, he’s spent cap space on other players. That list includes, John Cominsky, D.J. Reader, Marcus Davenport and quite a few others.
As for Roseman, here’s the draft capital he’s used on the defensive lineman that played in Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs:
- 2010: DE Brandon Graham — 1st Round of the 2010 NFL Draft
- 2018: DE Josh Sweat — 4th Round of the 2018 NFL Draft
- 2021: DT Milton Williams — 3rd Round of the 2021 NFL Draft
- 2022: DT Jordan Davis — 1st Round of the 2022 NFL…
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