Brad Holmes is going to have to prove his mettle in the 2026 offseason.
Cash constraints, multiple huge extensions, and major decisions to make on free agents will all be on his plate before he can even begin to assess the 2026 NFL Draft. There, it's likely the team will look to add to their trenches - specifically, their woeful offensive line.
After key departures left the line in shambles for the 2025 season, it's become increasingly clear that Holmes has to focus in entirely on the line if they want to continue to be one of the league's best offenses. One option for the team at center that could change everything for them, if Holmes makes the right moves, is signing soon-to-be-highly-sought-out center Tyler Linderbaum.
The price tag will be steep. But, Detroit must make a play for him in order to at least attempt to remain competitive in the NFC North.
Linderbaum would be perfect target for Brad Holmes to kickstart 2026 offseason
According to Spotrac, Linderbaum is projected to net a deal somewhere in the range of 4 years, $71 million. They also project that he'll earn an annual salary of somewhere in the range of $17 million. That would put him in the conversation with another great center, Creed Humphrey, for highest paid in the league.
Of course, Linderbaum is likely to net something like this from teams in dire need of offensive line help. Teams with promising young quarterbacks, or just those who have been dealing with a plethora of injuries as a result of poor offensive line play, would be smart to throw a bag at Linderbaum to kick start those rebuilds in their respective trenches.
Teams like the Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and, of course, the Lions, come to mind.
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But, could Holmes really pull this off? He'd need a ridiculous amount of buy-in from several players due up for extensions, such as Brian Branch, Jack Campbell, and Sam LaPorta. It does feel like he'll need to lock someone down who is due up for an extension, and it feels like that player would be Jahmyr Gibbs.
Maybe the Lions decide they can risk holding off on these players' extensions in lieu of a windfall for 2026 free agency in order to immediately become competitive for just one additional season?
It's a very risky idea, and one that Holmes is likely not keen on following through on. Linderbaum is going to command a huge market given how rare it is to find a center as good, and as reliable, as him. The loss of Frank Ragnow should make that abundantly clear to Lions fans. Detroit might not net him, but they have to at least push hard, as they're running out of options.