Jimbo

After reading ESPN's Ranking Depth at each position for this years draft I realize one reason why Holmes is one of the best GM's in the league. It was going through RB and TE depth and who they identify as 1rst round grades. It says that in 2023 ESPN identified only Bijon as the only 1rst round grade for RB and Kincaid and Mayer for TE. That just show's that ESPN influences how we think of the draft. Because obviously Holmes identified Gibbs and Laporta as 1rst round grades when ESPN didn't and he was proven right. I think we can comfortably say Laporta is better than both of the TE's given 1rst round grades in 2023. And Gibbs is at least just as good if not better than Bijon. I just remember everyone being so upset during that draft (that did also include Campbell). Now I am not saying ESPN (and other sports sites) always gets it wrong, I am just saying that I put a lot more trust into what Holmes evaluates than what you read online. I do understand though that ESPN and other sites have to evaluate in general and not fit for each team (even though they try).

I just feel like after the worst GM's in the history of any sports franchises we got the guy that is just better than almost all the others at identifying talent and character. Of course he's not going to bat 100% (he's made some misses) although the run he has had is about as good as it gets. So I am not scared of him missing.

After watching the combine and doing my own "research" (which in reality is watching some college games and reading ESPN lol). I realize that I really don't know as much as Brad Holmes knows (obviously). This is more of a joke than reality but I could not say that about most of the Lions past GM's. So that being said, its kind of boring but its Holmes I trust. If there is a player he feels like he can get that is on top of his board and is a day one starter (that he feels won't be there at our pick), than I want him to trade up. If there are a couple of players he feels like are in the same tier and his pick is coming up, I want him to stay put. If at our pick and he is struggling on what player to take because there are a few picks at the same tier than I would prefer getting more picks and trading down. If we have the ability to getting a potential star DE or DT but have to trade future assets, I am good with that since we are officially in win now mode. Although I don't want us to reach and get a similar player we could of gotten at our actualy pick or a trade down scenario.

These kind of decisions should take place after these next couple of years. Right now we are set up for a serious run in the next two years and also for the future (with possibly a year or two of retooling). So I am really not wanting to trade a top 5 player at any position (this year or the next) to help us out with the cap down the road. I am OK with us not going all in this year (trade away our future for one big run) but I also don't want us to keep on saying next year is the year. Trading LaPorta for draft picks and then taking Loveland (hoping he is as good as Laporta) with either our first or the one traded for Laporta doesn't make our team better this year. Last year we were officially in win now mode and that should be our situation for the next two years and possibly more. I really do believe if we didn't get hit so hard with the injuries last year we were right there with Philly.

The only way we do this is if the Lions get a first round pick for Laporta and then they draft one of the tight ends. Still don't think that's a good decision. Could be said about Gibbs and one of the early RBs as well. Both RBs and TE's have some serious top level talent. I don't want them to trade either. These next two years should be going all in for the championship and trading top 5 player in each position with the hope of replacing them with the same production is slim. When they traded Hockenson it made sense because we were rebuilding.

I am looking forward to seeing a lot of footage of Mrs. Goff

DE and RB is also deep which could help the Lions since they don't really need a RB. This could be a draft they trade down.

They might draft a player more with upside more now than in the past. Your teams roster does change how you create your board. This what I think the Vaki and Manu picks were. I could be wrong but its just a different team now which means your needs change. When you have holes everywhere, its easy to go with straight up BPA. There is also the situation where you think there is a game changer that has dropped because other teams needs and the rules of not drafting certain positions early (Gibbs pick). I also think they might be willing to take a player like Jalen Carter more now than two years ago because of the leadership they have. They did go with Jamo three years ago although I don't think he was thought to be an issue when they drafted him.

Philly had a great draft. I think its pretty safe to say that 2024 was Detroit's worst draft in the Holmes era. Still think this draft will look a lot better down the road than it looks right now.

This team will be competitive for years. There will be years where we don't win the division and barely make the playoffs (or miss the playoffs) although I don't see this team going back to SOL. We finally have competent upper management. I am thinking if Goff can't get us to the Superbowl in the next 2-3 years, there is a good chance we will be looking for someone else. Hopefully we can match what Philly did the last two years. They collapsed last year and then won it this year.

Yeah maybe BPA isn't the right term. I think they stick to their board and they move around based on tiers for their board. For instance, Arnold might of been the only player left for a 1rst round grade tier and it was a player of need. So they traded up to get him. When they trade down, they might have a bunch of players left for that tier (and for that pick). That is how I feel this regime drafts. I think most teams draft for BPA although their board doesn't identify talent as good. I also think good GM's stick to their board that they spent all this time developing. There was a lot of information about Millen during the drafts that he would go against his and his scouts own board because he would be enamored with a player.

I can't wait for the over reactions to the game last night. Everyone is going to say we need to do whatever it takes to get a better defensive line. You do not want to be the team chasing trends of success, you want to be the trend. Not sure what was happening with KC's offensive line. I don't think Philly blitzed once. I know Philly's front 4 was very good but that was just dominance like I have ever seen. Lions were the best team in the league on paper at the beginning of the year although you can not sustain injuries like they did. That is part of the game. Maybe not the extent the Lions endured though. Philly stayed relatively healthy for whole year. Not only does that build cohesion it enables you to rest your dominant players. This is also an example of Any Giving Sunday and having the perfect match up.

I think its a big mistake for teams that are clearly in rebuild mode to not consider trading assets over the age of 27, especially if they are wanting to be traded. All that does is make you a team that is good enough to barely make the playoffs or just miss out. You need to bite the bullet for a couple of years if you want to be a Superbowl contender. Now if your worried about selling team jerseys first than you keep a player like Crosby. Not even sure the Lions would want what it would take to get him. Just think its a big mistake for teams to hold on older stars when your not close to being a contender.

What would you be willing to give up for Garrett? Would you give up Jamo, Hooker, and 2025 1rst round pick? Do you think Crosby is going to be available?

To bad he didn't say that before last trade deadline.