Lions Seek to Bolster Draft Capital for Long-Term Sustainability

GM Brad Holmes must balance immediate roster needs with future draft flexibility

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:38am

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The Detroit Lions have had a busy offseason so far, signing 12 external free agents but also losing 10 players to other teams. GM Brad Holmes says the team is not done in free agency, and they have two top-50 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to add starting talent. However, the Lions' biggest remaining offseason goal should be to acquire more draft picks to ensure long-term roster sustainability, as Holmes has shown a tendency to trade up aggressively in recent drafts at the expense of future assets.

Why it matters

The Lions' approach of prioritizing low-cost free agents and avoiding risky contract restructures has helped maintain financial flexibility, but their draft-day trading habits have depleted their future draft capital. To keep their Super Bowl window open for as long as possible, the Lions need to find a more balanced approach between trading up for specific players and stockpiling future picks.

The details

In his first three drafts, Lions GM Brad Holmes has traded up five times and traded down three times. However, in the past two drafts, he has traded up seven times and traded down zero times, consistently sacrificing future assets to move up the board. This aggressive approach has helped the Lions land talented players, but it has also left them with limited draft capital, especially in the top 100 picks, to address their remaining roster needs.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April.
  • The Lions have the 17th and 50th overall picks in the 2026 draft.

The players

Brad Holmes

The general manager of the Detroit Lions, who has emphasized financial sustainability but has been aggressive in trading up in the draft, depleting the team's future draft capital.

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What they’re saying

“One of Holmes' biggest messages from his podcast appearance earlier this week was talking about the cap constraints the team currently has. Because of an expensive core of drafted and developed players, the Lions were only able to hand out one big multi-year external free agent contract. This is why the Lions haven't gotten better this offseason.”

— Jeremy Reisman, Author

What’s next

The Lions will look to add more draft picks, either through a trade down in the first round or other moves, to ensure they have the flexibility to address their roster needs in the long term while maintaining financial sustainability.

The takeaway

The Lions' approach of prioritizing financial flexibility and sustainability has served them well in free agency, but their aggressive draft-day trading habits have left them with limited draft capital to address their roster needs. To keep their Super Bowl window open for as long as possible, the Lions must find a more balanced approach between trading up for specific players and stockpiling future picks.