Will the Detroit Lions rebuild focus mainly on the draft?

The Detroit Lions are one of several NFL teams looking to kickstart a rebuild by hiring a new general manager and head coach. The Lions have hired longtime director of college scouting for the Los Angeles Rams, Brad Holmes, the be their new general manager. And all signs point to the team hiring New Orleans Saints’ assistant, Dan Campbell, as their new head coach soon.

Next, will come the installation of a new coaching staff in Detroit and the decision on the future of several key players including quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Kenny Golladay.

But the truth is while the duo of the 41-year old Holmes and the 44-year old Campbell possesses plenty of NFL experience, they are both unproven in their new roles in Detroit. The former never being a GM before, while the latter having only been an interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins for 12 games in 2015.

Exactly how this new regime will approach the rebuild in the Motor City is not only unknown but worrisome. But in a recent article that appeared on the team’s official website by Tim Twentyman, Holmes hinted at what that approach might be …

"“Holmes said some of the traits he’s looking for in the next head coach is a person who’s a leader of men, someone who has command and presence, and within that presence, is confident, poised, mentally tough and has a high passion to develop players and build through the draft with a relatively young team.”"

Based on his 18-year career in the Rams’ scouting department, it figures that Holmes would want to focus primarily on the draft to help rebuild the Lions. After all, his efforts in Los Angeles help his team land players like two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, defensive tackle Aaron Donald plus quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

Going into this year’s draft, the Lions possess the seventh overall selection in the first round. It’s the team’s third-straight year with a pick in the top ten. Those other two first-rounders being tight end T.J. Hockenson and cornerback Jeff Okudah.

A popular 2021 first-round selection for the Lions in recent mock drafts has been LSU wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase. All three of Detroit’s top wide receivers, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., and Danny Amendola are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March.

While the Detroit Lions do have several young, talented players that can be used as the foundation of a rebuild, the team also has several holes to fill along their roster. If the Lions intend on filling those voids mainly through the draft and considering its unpredictable nature, don’t expect a quick turnaround in the Motor City. And that makes sense as Brad Holmes describes himself as a long-term, long-vision, and long-view thinker.