Lions GM prepared for all first-round options, including trading out in front of home fans

Allen Park — The Lions are scheduled to select 29th in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, but it remains to be seen whether they'll stay put at that spot. If we can glean anything from general manager Brad Holmes' three-year tenure, he's equally comfortable moving up or down in the early stages of the event to execute his and the franchise's vision.

In 2021, Holmes' first year, the Lions stood pat with the No. 7 pick and snagged offensive tackle Penei Sewell. But the GM shared that he had genuine interest in trading back into the bottom portion of the opening round to select defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, who ended up sliding to the team in the early stages of Day 2.

The following year, Holmes made his boldest draft trade to date, jumping 20 spots to No. 12 to snag speedy wide receiver Jameson Williams. And in 2023, the Lions went the opposite direction, trading back six spots from No. 6 to No. 12 prior to selecting running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

At No. 29, Holmes should have plenty of time to weigh his options, but moving either direction remains on the table. The central message with either choice is the Lions are going to do what's necessary to get the players they love as fits.

"First of all, it’s got to be the right guy," Holmes said Thursday regarding his philosophy of moving up in the early rounds of the draft. "You guys see this, how we’ve operated in the past. If it’s the player that we want, we’re just going to go and get them. There are a lot of boxes that need to be checked. I think we kind of said it a little bit at the end of the season, everybody can’t play here. It’s got to be identified. That player has to be identified as, ‘OK, he’s checked all those boxes. He’s the right pick and he’s the right fit.'

"Also, it’s just how high you’re talking. Is it way high? Is it just a few spots? Either one, obviously when you trade up for a player you identified him. But me and (coach) Dan (Campbell) have been saying from Day 1, it just has to be the right fit. There are going to be some talented players that you all have been looking at in mock drafts and stuff that just may not be good fits, and that’s OK and we’re fine with that. But look, if it’s a guy we really want, we’ll definitely make an effort if it makes sense."

To secure Williams in 2022, the Lions had to give up a lot. In addition to No. 32 in the first round, the Lions also sent the Vikings picks 34 and 66, while getting back 46 in the swap. This year, outside of their own first-rounder, the Lions don't have that kind of draft equity to utilize. They're not slated to choose again until pick No. 61, at the end of the second round, followed by No. 73 in the middle of the third round. That means if they wanted to move up that drastically, they'd likely have to barter with a future first-rounder.

One thing Holmes won't feel pressured by is the idea the Lions have a finite window of Super Bowl contention. After making a run to the NFC Championship game last year, he refuses to operate as if the franchise can't compete well beyond the next couple seasons.

"I don’t really base it off of windows, really," Holmes said. "It’s just how much of an impactful player do you want to get. … I just think we keep improving every single year through doing it in our process. That’s what we’ve been doing and that’s what we’ll continue to do. I think when you start getting into that, ‘We’ve got this window, we’ve got this, so we’ve got to pivot,’ that’s when I think you kind of get into a little bit of trouble."

For that reason, Holmes isn't ruling out dropping out of the first round entirely. Normally, you wouldn't think much about that possibility, given there are only three picks remaining in the round after the Lions' scheduled selection. But the caveat is the event is being held in Detroit this year, and there's a sentiment you'd be depriving the fans who spent the night downtown a chance to celebrate.

Holmes acknowledges that reality, but also notes he can't allow that kind of fleeting sentiment to be a factor in his decision-making process. In other words, sorry, not sorry. His top priority will always be putting the best product on the field.

"It's something that, look, we have to do the right thing for the organization," Holmes said. "And if it makes sense, it lines up and it’s the right thing to do, we have to do the right thing. So say that happens, where the fans have been waiting there all night for the pick and we get an offer that we really can’t turn down. It makes sense, we’ve got to do the right thing.

"Hopefully, our fans will forgive us. We won’t expect immediate forgiveness right then and there, but hopefully when the season starts, and that player that we end up selecting (performs), then it’s like, OK, we can kind of get past the (frustration.)

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers