Lions rank surprisingly high in NFL GM power rankings

Although Brad Holmes is just two years into his tenure as the general manager of the Detroit Lions, he’s already made quite the impression.

So much so, in fact, that NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal ranked Holmes seventh in his latest NFL GM power rankings, ahead of more tenured executives including Dallas’ Jerry Jones, New England’s Bill Belichick, New Orleans’ Mickey Loomis and Tampa Bay’s Jason Licht.

“Holmes has done virtually no wrong since arriving,” Rosenthal said. “He preceded Dan Campbell by a week and pivoted from the Matthew Stafford era with a home run trade that helped quickly build a roster spawning the most unbridled Lions enthusiasm in memory. Getting to use the Rams' No. 6 overall draft pick feels like a pivot point, the chance to go from fun story to real contender. After two top-shelf drafts and a smart free agency haul that focused on improving the secondary, Holmes has more than earned the benefit of the ever-present doubt in Detroit.”

Under Holmes’ guidance, the Lions had their first winning season this year since 2017, and just the fifth such season since 2001.

Some of his notable moves over the last two years include trading Stafford to Los Angeles for two first-round picks, and drafting notable franchise building blocks like tackle Penei Sewell, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who’s developed into a top-10 wideout, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, receiver Jameson Williams, safety Kerby Joseph and linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez and James Houston. 

Hutchinson (9.5) and Houston (eight) ranked first and second among rookies in sacks, while Joseph led the team with four interceptions and eight passes defensed.

The Lions have the sixth and 18th overall picks in the 2023 draft and own four selections in the top 64. After shoring up the secondary by signing cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley plus safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Detroit is a sleeper pick to make the postseason this season for the first in six years.