Lions GM Brad Holmes Stresses Grit in Draft Strategy
The Detroit Lions are refocusing on their 'gritty' identity as they rebuild for the 2026 season following a challenging 2025 campaign. Lions General Manager Brad Holmes made it clear that toughness, competitiveness, and physicality were the top priorities in the recent draft.
"You're just looking for very gritty football players," Holmes said. "You have to have a level of grit to you and that was a huge emphasis for both free agency and the draft process."
Holmes reiterated the team's commitment to identifying players who fit the Lions' culture, a theme he and head coach Dan Campbell have consistently emphasized.
"Just finding gritty football players," Holmes said. "I'm not saying we forgot about our identity, but just making sure that was at the top of mind. That's why every single player we took, when we're writing notes we write, 'This guy's a football player.' . . . I've said that about every one of our guys. Me and Dan are seeing it the same way, they're football players that fit us."
The Lions' draft strategy reflects a deliberate shift toward players who embody the team's core values, ensuring a strong foundation for the 2026 season.
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