The Detroit Lions didn't meet expectations during the 2025 season, but thankfully, the time has almost come to focus on the offseason and turning the page to 2026.
While the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are getting set to do battle in the Super Bowl, every other team is thinking about how they might reach that level. Despite the feeling of some that it's an impossible task, an analysis reveals the Lions could be closer than many might think to breaking through.
ESPN analyst Ben Solak took a look at revealing the biggest lessons learned from both the Seahawks and Patriots and their runs this past season. Interestingly, he found some ingredients that already exist within Detroit.
Solak believes front offices can spend their way to a Super Bowl, a middle-class quarterback contract can be a roadmap to success, it's alright to hire a defensive-minded or CEO as head coach and believes a team should be chasing explosive plays.
As prices rise around them, the Lions have what's poised to be a solid middle-class quarterback contract with Jared Goff. They have a good tactician and CEO in Dan Campbell as head coach. Additionally, they have an explosive offense that routinely finds big plays. If they are lacking anything in terms of putting them over the top, it's aggressive spending.
The Seahawks signed veteran names such as Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence to patch holes in free agency. New England shelled out big cash for Stefon Diggs, Harold Landry and most notably, Carlton Davis, who Detroit let walk. All played a major role in helping each franchise last season.
This offseason, if the Lions want to take the next step for 2026, they have to be all-eyes on making a major improvement.
Brad Holmes must have a big offseason to get Lions back on track
For Detroit's purposes, the most useful part of Solak's analysis could well be the revelation that a team can spend money and improve their roster enough to make the Super Bowl. The Lions have been reluctant to do that in recent offseasons, choosing only to draft, develop and pay their own players. Arguably, it has been the one thing holding the franchise back.
Entering this offseason, Holmes took a frustrating tone when it came to questions about his aggressiveness. He was defensive about what he hasn't done in the past, making excuses for Detroit's lack of major moves.
"I understand if you don't see a certain amount of transactional activity and you don't see the results. You don't see another player added. You don't see the the trade. You don't see the big splash signing. But our work ethic has always been high. You have to put so much work into making sure that you don't make a mistake. The easier thing to do is to see a name of interest that you've heard of, you think's been a good football player and just make the move and then (not) put in all the effort to find out why this player is available or why he's not being signed back. It's a lot of work. That's not going to change."
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When it comes to what happens this offseason, Holmes was noticeably non-committal when pressed directly about whether he expect to be more aggressive.
"I don't want to sit here and say that more activity is going to be the answer. Honestly, a lot of the things that we'll look at and a lot of the changes that we will make probably won't come with a headline. That's not to say that we won't do something that's in that splash category, but it's not indicative of a lack of effort (or) work ethic."
As Solak's analysis shows, Holmes can step up his game in terms of bigger moves and expect a major return on investment. The Lions are close to having a team capable of making a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, they have failed to strike the right balance in recent years, and it has cost them. Perhaps it won't be the case in 2026.