The Detroit Lions' rise to prominence has been rooted in drafting well, and keeping the players that have shown themselves to be part of the core around long-term.
But it's also worth wondering if that plan puts an artifiical ceiling on a Super Bowl window general manager Brad Holmes continues to insist doesn't exist, with the idea of "financial constraints" limiting what can be done.
If the Lions are fine with being sustainably good for years, while never going all-in in the effort to win a Super Bowl, so be it. But other teams in their position aren't making the "financial constraints" excuse when it comes to not making notable moves, and it's fair for fans and analysts to be growing tired of that crutch being used by Holmes.
As the draft approaches, there may be opportunities for the Lions to make the kind of "all-in" move a lot of people would like to see. The expectation would be that they won't do it, though, and if Holmes is ever generally asked about a lack of aggressiveness he'll continue to insinuate his approach shouldn't be questioned.
Mock trade has Lions going against their grain, and all-in
Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports has offered up one player each NFC team should trade for during the 2026 draft. For the Lions, he went all the way in.
"Acquire: DT Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans
Cost: 2026 first-round pick (17th), 2027 second-round pick"
"The Titans didn’t trade Simmons at the deadline last year, and it’s hard to imagine new coach Robert Saleh would want to part with his best player now. But the clock is ticking on a contract that expires after next season, and will the Titans be any good by then? The Lions, meanwhile, have their own clock ticking on contention and desperately need help on the defensive line to avoid Aidan Hutchinson drawing constant double-teams. Add a DT like Simmons and their pass rush could be fierce again, making them an instant contender. That could be worth what should be a very hefty price."
Simmons is one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL, with four Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro team selections over the last five seasons. He set a career-high with 11 sacks last season, as he also earned the first First Team All-Pro nod of his career and was Pro Football Focus' third-highest graded defensive tackle.
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Putting Vacchiano's proposal into Spotrac's trade machine, the Lions would take on $20.6 million this year and $23.5 million in 2027 if they traded for Simmons.
The 2027 money is not a major issue as things currently stand, but other looming contracts (Jahmyr Gibbs) are lined up to change that equation. That said, in total, their current financial commitment to Alim McNeill over the next two years is more than it would be for Simmons.
Parting with this year's first-round pick and a pick roughly in the top 50 or 60 overall next year would be where Holmes likely turns up his nose at a deal for a big-name veteran--Simmons or anyone else.
But if the Lions' general manager is at all open to doing something big after a non-playoff season, no option should be off the table right now and Simmons might be more available than a lot of other potential options.