The Lions big picture
With the exodus of Kenny Golladay, that means that two out of the Lions’ top three offensive weapons from last year will be gone. When it becomes official that Matthew Stafford will be chasing a Super Bowl in Southern California, that will leave D’Andre Swift as Detroit’s top returning threat.
Jared Goff will be the starter of record until Brad Holmes acquires his quarterback of the future and the weapons surrounding him, at the moment, start and end with tight end T.J. Hockenson and Swift.
So with needs all over the defense, on the offensive line, and at running back, not to mention a receiving corps running on empty, Brad Holmes work is cut out for him. Yet from the standpoint of the receiver, he’s been here before.
Holmes was one of the big influences in rebuilding the Rams receiving corps in Los Angeles. They went from having very little to write home about to becoming explosive on the outside in short order. Now he will need to repeat that feat in the Motor City.
But while the big picture in Detroit may not seem too bright at the moment as we stare towards this fall, the truth is that letting Golladay walk was really in the best interest of both Kenny and the Lions. Because at a time that the salary cap has shrunk, it will not only take some shrewd drafting but some wise spending as well to turn this franchise around.
How Holmes and his staff handle free agency and the draft will be a big litmus test for the Lions moving forward. It just can’t be emphasized how much Brad is opening up possibilities that can really help this franchise. But opportunities will mean nothing if he doesn’t capitalize on them.
Brad Holmes turned heads and drew praise from around the league for how he handled the Matthew Stafford trade. Now is his chance to make the Kenny Golladay savings count through free agency and the draft as he attempts to awaken a franchise that has slumbered for over 60 years by ultimately proving the Lions are better off without him.