Evaluating Draft Molds and Tendencies Series Introduction & Schedule
Taking a deep dive into the Lions scheme and the historical tendencies of various Lions decision-makers to figure out just what interests the Lions.
Now that we have three full draft classes from Brad Holmes as the Lions general manager, we can expand some of our draft tendencies and molds. This is a deep dive into what commonalties and consistencies are noted in the players Holmes has acquired and prioritized during his time in Detroit, and previously. Doing so helps us identify if there are specific key factors that can help us point towards specific prospects in various Draft classes. For example, using this practice, I successfully identified 7 of the Lions 8 draft picks as probable fits, and then promptly included four of them in our various mock drafts that were produced here.
This series will last through the summer, going position-by-position deliberately.
Who Factors In?
A few backgrounds are helpful here. Detroit has emphasized its collaborative approach amongst its upper leadership. A few teams and timelines that we’ll be scouting out, though with clearly varying weights:
Detroit Lions (2021-2023): Obviously the most important is what foundations and trends have Holmes and Campbell started setting in this current role. First-time GMs do tend to bring a lot of similarities over from where they were at, but do break off and do their own thing sufficiently enough. Thus, the moves that Holmes and Campbell make in Detroit do weigh heaviest, though given their still young tenure, it does require some supplementation.
Los Angeles Rams (2013-2020): Fairly simple one here, as Lions general manager Brad Holmes was Les Snead’s right-hand man in building up the Rams over this stretch, working as Director of College Scouting. Ray Agnew also was there from 2017-2020 as Director of Pro Personnel, which is also the specific four-year timeline weighed most heavily from the non-Holmes/Campbell Lions tenure.
New Orleans Saints (2016-2020), Miami Dolphins (2010-2014): Dan Campbell’s tenure as a position coach covered this stretch, but what’s also interesting is that another common theme here was Jeff Ireland, who was the Dolphins GM during that stretch and then the Asst. GM in New Orleans to this day, meaning there’s a decade long run of relationship between Campbell and Ireland, thus giving it some relevance. Ben Johnson also overlapped as an offensive position coach during the Miami stretch, and Aaron Glenn as a position coach in the New Orleans stretch.
A few minor ones I may touch on at times…
New York Jets defensive back additions (2012-2013): Prior to coaching, Aaron Glenn was a personnel scout for the Jets.
Cleveland Browns (2017-2019): John Dorsey, the Lions senior personnel executive, was general manager here for this stretch.
Kansas City Chiefs (2013-2017): John Dorsey, the Lions senior personnel executive, was general manager here for this stretch.
Detroit Lions (2009-2020): Some of the Lions secondary executives have been kept around under prior administrations, such as salary cap guru Mike Disner, Pro Scouting director Rob Lohman, asst. Scouting Director Brian Hudspeth, and asst. Pro Scouting director Joe Kelleher.
All of this is clearly weighted to prioritize the direct actions of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, and then their influences, but then does touch on the backgrounds and influences of others who clearly have some manner of authority, responsibility, input, and influence into the collaborative process that is the Lions decision-making.
From this, we will be going position by position, discussing some of the scheme usages of each spot, what measurables Holmes tends to look at, and then also figure out which scouting characteristics stand out as consistent themes here.
The schedule will be every other Friday, which breaks down into something resembling this:
Defensive Tackles - Friday, May 12th
Edge Rushers - Friday, May 26th
Inside Linebackers - Friday, June 9th
Cornerbacks - Friday, June 23rd
Safeties - Friday, July 7th
Centers & Guards - Friday, July 21st
Tackles - Friday, August 4th
Tight Ends - Friday, August 18th
Wide Receivers - Friday, September 1st
Running Backs - Friday, September 15th
Quarterbacks - Friday, September 29th