Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes was quite aggressive during the 2024 NFL Draft, with the team making a total of four trades during the three-day event, all of which saw them move up in the draft order to snag their guys.
The Lions started their trade-filled NFL Draft by moving up to No. 24 in the first round to select Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold. Then, Detroit moved into the third round twice after entering Day 2 with no third-round picks. The first trade saw them move up to No. 126 for British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, and then just six picks later the Lions were moving up again for Utah safety/running back, Sione Vaki.
Last but not least, the Lions struck another deal to nab LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo in the sixth round at pick No. 189, their second-to-last selection in the draft.
But not everyone was a fan of the Lions' moves. Multiple unnamed NFL executives criticized the trades in an article from The Athletic's Mike Sando.
“They fixed a problem, but at what cost?” one executive said. “You are never one player way.”
Another executive was a fan of the selections of Arnold and Missouri corner Ennis Rakestraw Jr. but felt Holmes might have given up too much to move up for the former.
“I like both those corners they drafted, but they gave up a lot,” he said. “I felt they could have waited at 29 and maybe gotten their guy or taken Kool-Aid McKinstry or Nate Wiggins.”
One executive even hinted that Holmes was a little arrogant with the deals, but wasn't ready to compare that arrogance to the Atlanta Falcons', who made the stunning decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall.
“They are really good, so they have earned that right,” the exec said. “It’s a little different from the arrogance coming out of Atlanta. Detroit has had a lot of success drafting offensive line.”
It wasn't all bad from Sando's article, though, with one executive praising the Lions for going for it with their moves.
“Detroit is taking a swing," said the exec, "and you have to admire teams willing to do that."
With the Lions having such a talented roster, they could afford to be on the aggressive side in the draft, even if it meant giving up future assets. While you can question the players the Lions ultimately took with some of those picks, the overall approach was the right one.
Not to mention, Holmes' track record has earned him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
