Since becoming the Lions’ General Manager in January 2021, Brad Holmes has done a great job when it comes to the draft. With 15 selections in the last 2 drafts combined, he has really jump-started this rebuild and made the Lions a serious playoff contender entering the 2023 offseason. How good have these picks been? Nine of the 15 players are poised to be in a starting role this season, while four more look to be key contributors in their respective rotations. The other two are currently solid players on the practice squad that could hold their own in the rotation when their name is called. When making this list, I’m looking at a few things. Where they were selected, their impact, and some of the available players at their position when they were picked are major factors in my rankings. So.. who is the worst pick Holmes has made, and who stands above the rest? Let’s take a look:
#15: Levi Onwuzurike (R2, Pick 41 in 2021)
This isn’t a knock on his talent, as I truly believe that he could be a solid rotational player/potential starter beside Alim McNeill at the Defensive Tackle position. His main problem, however, is that he can’t stay healthy. In his two seasons in the NFL, he’s only played the 16 games in the 2021 season (missed all of 2022) and only got on the field for about 36% of the defensive snaps in his rookie year. While on the field, he only managed 35 tackles, 2 TFL’s and a single sack. He has lots of time to turn it around, but his spot on the roster could already be up for grabs this season.
#14: Ifeatu Melifonwu (R3, Pick 101 in 2021)
Melifonwu’s circumstances are very similar to Levi’s: he’s just struggled to stay healthy. However, he’s been better when on the field. Before getting hurt the first time in his rookie season, he was doing a phenomenal job of playing man defense on then Packers’ standout Davante Adams on Monday Night Football. Once he got hurt, he just wasn’t the same, amassing only 5 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries and 29 tackles in his 17 games over the two seasons. If he can find his way back to the version of him that was covering Adams, he climbs up this list in a hurry. But for now, he remains stuck in the middle of the DB rotation.
#13: Chase Lucas (R7, Pick 237 in 2022)
Lucas has been virtually invisible so far, only playing in 6 games in his rookie season and only amassing 3 tackles. But what is really expected from a player picked only 25 spots before Mr. Irrelevant? It will be interesting to see if he can develop into a solid rotational player or will be stuck on the practice squad.
#12: Jermar Jefferson (R7, Pick 257 in 2021)
Stuck behind 4 solid Running Backs, Jefferson finds himself tied to the practice squad, but performed pretty well when given the opportunity. This is a guy that could develop into a solid rotational back, but may need to find a new team for that to happen.
#11: James Mitchell (R5, Pick 177 in 2022)
This shows just how well Holmes has drafted, as James Mitchell was solid when called upon in his rookie season, yet ends up eleventh out of fifteen possible players on this list. Mitchell caught all 11 of his targets for 113 yards and 1 touchdown, and looks to take on a bigger role in his second season. If they stick with this group of Tight Ends that they used after trading TJ Hockenson, look for Mitchell to battle with Shane Zylstra and Brock Wright for the starting role.
#10: Derrick Barnes (R4, Pick 113 in 2021)
Barnes is an interesting player to take a look at. At the end of his rookie campaign, Derrick looked poised to be an impact player, posting a stat line including 67 tackles, 4 TFL’s, 2 sacks and 2 passes defended in just 6 starts. He followed that up with a slightly worse season in 2022, finishing with just 47 tackles, 3 TFL’s, 1 sack and only 1 pass defended. He was an integral part of the special teams’ units, and did miss two games with injury this year, but hopefully he can work his way into the starting lineup this year.
#9: Josh Paschal (R2, Pick 46 in 2022)
Josh Paschal missed the first 5 games, followed by another 2 game inactive streak in weeks 11 and 12. However, when Paschal was in the lineup, he was a solid young defender for the Lions. He finished his rookie campaign with 16 tackles, 2 TFL’s and 2 sacks in only 293 snaps. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but when a rookie is making their debut nearly 2 months into the regular season, this is a pretty impressive feat if you ask me. Always touted as a better run defender than pass rusher, Paschal proved this in spades, almost always being around the ball on run plays. He looks to be a solid run defender for the Lions with the potential to develop into a solid pass rusher.
#8: Jameson Williams (R1, Pick 12 in 2022)
Jameson Williams is only this low because of the injury keeping him out until just after Thanksgiving. Both times he touched the ball, it was electrifying, catching a 41 yard TD on his first career reception and rushing for 40 yards on his first career carry. Hopefully they can figure out different ways to get him the ball in the offseason, as him and Goff struggled to connect this season. If they can make Williams a dynamic part of this offense, opposing defenses are in for a world of trouble next season.
#7: Alim McNeill (R3, Pick 72 in 2021)
McNeill is a solid interior defender, but is stuck at 7 due to how well the Lions have drafted over the last two years. He constantly shuts down running lanes and occasionally gets after the passer. He showed up big for the Lions in his first full season as a starter, amassing 41 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 1 sack. The numbers may not wow you, but it’s all the little things he does that aren’t on the stat sheet that make him a good DT. Hopefully he builds on a solid 2022 season and helps restore this defense to a solid unit.
#6: James Houston (R6, Pick 217 in 2022)
Appropriately nicknamed “Da Problem” while at Jackson State University, James Houston lit the stats sheets up upon making his debut on Thanksgiving. Playing in the last 7 games of the season, Houston racked up 8 sacks, 7 TFL’s, 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Hopefully Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn let him attempt to build off that phenomenal finish to his rookie season, as him and Defensive Rookie of The Year runner-up Aidan Hutchinson have the potential to both get double digit sacks next year and become one of the better pass rush duos for years to come.
#5: Malcolm Rodriguez (R6, Pick 188 in 2022)
All Rodrigo did this season was become one of the bigger steals in the 2022 NFL Draft. He gained massive popularity through Hard Knocks, but caught the eye of notable offensive lineman in the league. When you’ve got Jason Kelce talking about how you ragdolled him in the first game of your career, you know you’re doing something right. He was solid in every category, walking away with 87 tackles, 8 TFL’s, two passes defended, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Here’s hoping he can build on his solid rookie season and become one of the better Linebackers in the NFC.
#4: Kerby Joseph (R3, Pick 97 in 2022)
When you pick off Aaron Rodgers 3 times in a career, you know you’re doing something right (only the second player in NFL history to conquer this feat, Brian Urlacher being the other). When you happen to do it all in your rookie season, that’s something to be heavily praised! Kerby Joseph showed off his ball-hawking skills in his rookie season, having 4 interceptions to go with2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 82 tackles. That’s a great rookie season for a third round pick, and this was a great steal by Brad Holmes.
#3: Aidan Hutchinson (R1, Pick 2 in 2022)
As a Michigan Wolverines fan, I was begging Jacksonville to take Travon Walker so Aidan could stay home. My prayers were answered, as the 2021 Heisman runner-up ended up in the Honolulu Blue. He had a very good rookie season in the Motor City, ending up with 52 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 9 TFL’s, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 passes defended and 3 INT’s. He was all over the place this past season, playing very well against both the run and the pass. If Hutch can build on that season, he’ll be an absolute game wrecker for years to come.
#2: Penei Sewell (R1, Pick 7 in 2021)
As a former offensive lineman, Penei Sewell was my favorite prospect in the 2021 class. It just so happened that he fell into our laps with the 7th overall pick and we ran to the podium to get him, and he’s been worth it ever since. He plays nasty, physical and with immense amounts of talent every single time he touches the field. He played well as a rookie at both left and right tackle, but became one of the best right tackles in the NFL in 2022, only allowing 2 sacks. This is an elite player at the offensive line position, and the fact that he’ll only be 23 in October means he’ll be elite for a long time. If it wasn’t for a massive game changer being drafted 95 picks later in the same draft, Penei would be number one. However, a certain Sun God was selected in the fourth round, so without further ado.
#1: Amon-Ra St. Brown (R4, Pick 112 in 2021)
When we selected St. Brown with the 112th pick, I knew we had a steal, but the only person that thought he’d be this good in the first two years of his career would probably be him. After almost getting to 1,000 yards, just missing 100 receptions and having 5 TD’s in his rookie season, Amon-Ra beat all those numbers in his second season. He finished 2022 with 106 receptions for 1,161 and 6 TD’s and a pro bowl nod to go with it. An absolute game breaker on the offensive side of the ball, the Sun God is a weapon all over the field. They line him up as a running back, out wide and in the slot, and target him often in all three spots. It’s not just what he does with the ball in his hands either, he is a willing blocker with a nasty streak and a never say die attitude. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the epitome of what Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes are looking for in a player, and he is, in my opinion, the best draft selection Brad Holmes has made so far.
What do you guys think? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think!
well written and thought out