Brad Holmes has to attempt to recreate the magic of the Detroit Lions' 2021-2023 NFL draft seasons.
This time, though, he's not working with the treasure trove bestowed onto the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford. He'll be working with the 17th overall pick, as well as no 3rd rounder. That makes their Day 1 picks all the more important.
The NFL Combine offers a nice window for ownership, coaching staffs, and fans to view potential draft prospects under some bright lights. A bad showing at the combine can make or break a player's value in the draft, whereas a great showing can change everything about a teams' draft strategy.
Ahead of this year's event, which kicks off on February 26, the Lions have a few major questions to answer.
3 burning questions for Lions ahead of NFL Combine
1. How are the Lions going to avoid another Frank Ragnow situation?
We're still waiting to hear back from Taylor Decker on what he's planning to do. Retirement is on the table, as well a nice, potential farewell tour for the 2026 season. Decker could be the perfect mentor to a rookie left tackle, taking the pressure off that neophyte from having to perform at a Decker-level in their first year.
However, if Decker does retire, that leaves Detroit with the need to quickly fill a huge hole on their blind side. That feels like a role for a free agent, or a trade target - not for a rookie lineman. That's what makes this decision so huge, and why the Lions should attempt to do both this offseason. They need to find a rookie successor, but they should also look for a starting tackle in free agency.
Some names to monitor on that front: free agent tackles Rasheed Walker or Stone Forsythe, and prospects Kadyn Proctor, Spencer Fano, or Max Iheanachor. If Penei Sewell can seriously flip over to the left side, then Detroit can also look at free agent right tackles like Jermaine Eluemunor or Braden Smith.
2. Can Detroit get anything of value back for David Montgomery?
Montgomery was seemingly disgruntled this past year about his diminished role in the Lions' offense, and understandably so. He's a starting back anywhere in the league with an opening at running back, and he wasn't utilized as such. That was mostly thanks to the lack of run blocking available up front, but also because Detroit clearly views Jahmyr Gibbs as their future - and only - RB1.
This could lead to some trade calls being made at the combine. Montgomery is only 29 years old and on a great deal with the Lions, with a post-June 1 trade set to save Detroit $6 million, per Over the Cap.
The Lions could probably net at least a Day 2 pick for Montgomery, or even a lineman at a position of need, if they plan to move him. He might be the most valuable trade piece they have headed into the 2026 offseason.
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3. Can the Lions rely on their defensive line to bounce back from poor run-stopping year?
Uncharacteristically, the Lions were unable to rely on their defensive line to stop the run against teams down the stretch of the season. That lapse came on the heels of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard quite specifically praising that part of the teams' defense, which made him and the line look bad to fans.
Free agents along the Lions' defensive line include D.J. Reader and Roy Lopez, while they have several EDGE rushers hitting the market, as well: Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyrus Wheat, and Marcus Davenport. They might be staring down a bit of a rebuild in the trenches, which is already under a microscope as the team is looking for a long-term partner next to Aidan Hutchinson.
If they can't replace Reader or Muhammad, especially, that bodes badly for their chances at bouncing back in 2026 as they have to win those trench battles in order to take the load off what might be a very thin secondary.