Lions GM Holmes wraps up the 2025 NFL Draft with thoughts on his Day 3 picks

Lions general manager Brad Holmes met with the media to wrap up the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday night. Here are some of the highlights from that Q&A.

● Maybe it’s not intentional in his selection process, but Holmes’ confidence in certain college programs is readily apparent and undoubtedly rooted in his scouting experience.

During his tenure as Detroit’s general manager, he’s pulled multiple prospects from certain schools. In the past, Iowa and Alabama were at the top of that list. This week, Georgia closed some ground with the Lions drafting three players from the college powerhouse.

Holmes was quick to remind us that he had been stationed in Atlanta as a regional scout for years while with the Rams, which provided him regular access to the school and enhanced his appreciation for how it operates.

“Obviously have been to Georgia practices a lot, and have been around that program a lot, and it’s unlike anything else that I’ve seen live, in terms of a college practice, in terms of just the intensity,” Holmes said. "Nick) Saban, at Alabama, was very similar. But just the intensity, the physicality, the detail, the tempo, the whole thing, the energy, I mean, it’s just — when you can go through that kind of regimen and you practice like that, they’re ready. I think everything that (Georgia coach Kirby) Smart’s done with that program, I think everything speaks for itself.”

● Detroit added multiple players on Day 3 who should contribute on special teams. That’s not uncommon, as it’s often the path for late-round prospects to earn a roster spot. Holmes went as far as to say it’s frequently a deciding factor when weighing similar prospects.

“Take wide receiver, if there’s another player that’s just maybe a little bit better route runner, or maybe has a little bit better hands, but if he doesn’t have the attitude or the skillset to contribute on special teams — you’re talking about battling for a fifth spot — we’re going with the guy that can contribute on special teams,” Holmes said.

The GM quipped that special teams coordinator Dave Fipp could run the team’s draft in the later rounds.

● Because of the external fascination with adding an edge rusher, combined with the intense personality and unique background of sixth-round draft pick Ahmed Hassanein, there were predictably a lot of questions about the selection.

Holmes said he started watching the Boise State defender’s tape after he was announced as a Shrine Bowl participant. It didn’t take long for the general manager to get a feel for Hassanein’s effort and playing style.

“We acquired him because he plays with his hair on fire, and as, let’s call it developmental as he is, he just, he plays hard,” Holmes said. “I think I said the other night, what do you have to do at that position? You’ve got to set edges and win rushes. And when I say win rushes, it’s not just getting a sack. You can win rushes just by harassment, and power, and collapsing the pocket, and just sheer effort.

“We just liked the upside of him,” Holmes continued. “We like his football character, his work ethic, his passion. He was so fired up on the phone to get here. That’s the type of stuff you want to hear. He’s been one of those guys that sometimes they start off as one of the favorites and then sometimes they might drift off because you see so much and you do so much film, but he’s a guy that just kept staying on the steady climb and ascension the more and more and more we watched of him.”

Holmes said he’s confident Hassanein will do everything to squeeze every bit of potential out of his body.

“He’s going to be very, very coachable,” Holmes said. “The kid would probably sleep in this facility if he could. That’s kind of what his makeup is.”

Will the selection be enough to quell those outside concerns about the position? Holmes is skeptical.

"I don’t know," he said. "You guys have been on my ass pretty hard on it. It was just a little bit, I was like, ‘Sixth round, is that – I don’t know if that suffices.’"

● Holmes raved about second-round pick Tate Ratlegde’s underrated versatility a night earlier, then traded up for LSU’s Miles Frazier in the fifth round. His resume includes playing time at left tackle, left guard, and right guard. Frazier played mostly inside at LSU but confirmed he was also the Tigers' primary backup at both tackle spots during the 2024 season.

I asked Holmes how he goes about deciding how many different spots to try a rookie lineman. The GM said those decisions are made by the coaching staff and depend on the player. I followed up by asking if either Ratledge or Frazier could see time at center during their first offseason with the team.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Holmes said. “(Offensive line coach) Hank (Fraley), he’ll cross-train all those guys. He’s going to cross-train all of those guys, so if they’ve only been at guard, he’s going to put a ball between their legs and see if they can snap.

“(But) Hank’s not going to put somebody in a tough position, either,” Holmes continued. “He’s going to be able to assess if they have the right makeup and mentality and communicative skills. That’s a big part of just — it’s not about just being able to snap. I mean, you have to have elite communication skills, not just as a starter, but even as a backup.”

● Some questioned whether the drafting of two interior offensive linemen might impact veteran Graham Glasgow’s roster spot. Holmes quieted those rumblings by emphasizing the critical role the veteran could have as a mentor to the slew of young linemen on the roster.

“I think he’s going to be very valuable,” Holmes said. “You’re talking about another one that’s got legit, proven positional versatility, as well. Just with his experience, having legit stripes on the wall, glad that we still have him and I think he can help a lot of those young guys.”