IN ALLEN PARK, MI General manager Brad Holmes claims that the Detroit Lions have become a destination for free agents as a result of their recent success.
Holmes talked about the changing perception of the Lions team on Thursday, attributing the general increase in interest from players and their agents to the team’s consecutive winning seasons.
Holmes stated, “It has been different.” “In the past— I would say for the first two years, we were trying to attract folks here by marketing and persuading all the time. Nevertheless, the fact that we’ve made progress and that these agents want to send their players here does make you feel good.”
As he begins his fourth season as general manager with head coach Dan Campbell, Holmes made it clear that wide receivers’ and kickers’ agencies were pushing to get their players to Detroit this offseason.
“Now, the wide receiver front, that was even easier conversations,” he stated. “Every agent of a wide receiver wanted to send them here, and you know really the same thing happened with kicker too.”
The Lions made moves at both wide receiver and kicker, but they eventually failed to sign any high-profile players at either position. Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson II, two veteran wide receivers, were added to Detroit’s practice squad on Wednesday. Donovan Peoples-Jones was released and then re-signed to the club.
After Michael Badgley’s season-ending injury last month, the Lions currently have former UFL star Jake Bates at kicker. Bates is expected to start every game going forward.
This offseason, the Lions were largely quiet throughout free agency; their most high-profile addition was veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader. To strengthen the defense, Detroit also acquired cornerback Carlton Davis III through trade.
Holmes expressed his pride in the Lions executive office’s ability to maintain discipline in the face of heightened attention from free agents and avoid feeling unwarranted pressure from a potential championship window.
“I’m proud of us that we’ve avoided mentally putting ourselves into that, ‘We’re being in a window, and so we have to do something different,’ from a roster standpoint,” he stated. “What gives us confidence is that we’ve maintained a pretty consistent strategy and procedure in terms of how we create it and the opportunities we give players.
“We have stated our goal to improve every year since the beginning. That is what we have done and what we intend to do going forward.
The Lions, who just won their first division crown since 1993 and made their second-ever trip to the NFC Championship Game, have the third-best probability (17.6%) of winning the Super Bowl this year, according to ESPN Analytics.
Although Detroit has never won 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons, it is also the favorite to win its division for the second straight year.
Holmes, though, stated his expectations for the next season without holding back.
“To win the Super Bowl,” he said with conviction.
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