Trading for top edge rusher unlikely as Lions GM Holmes stares down challenge of retaining team's young pieces

(Getty Images)

Indianapolis — Reporters danced around being direct during Brad Holmes' pre-combine press conference on Tuesday. Still, everyone understood what the Detroit Lions general manager was being asked: Could the team make a play for All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett, who requested a trade out of Cleveland earlier this offseason?

Even though spring was in the air in central Indiana — with the sun out and the temperature hitting 60 degrees — Holmes' realistic and logical assessment of the situation served as rain on the parade of fans hopeful of an earth-shattering offseason move.

After giving a lengthy answer about the challenges of landing an impact edge rusher in a trade, especially with the pending need to re-sign their star at the position, Aidan Hutchinson, Holmes was asked if the team could even afford to add another.

"Probably not," Holmes said.

And while that leaves the door ajar because time tends to make fools of those who speak in absolutes, it's clear Holmes doesn't anticipate landing a Garrett or Maxx Crosby this offseason.

The complex reality is the team is nearing a tipping point where it won't even be able to retain everyone it wants, let alone add a top star from outside the organization.

"We're at the juncture with our roster right now that we have identified a lot of young core pieces that we want to keep around, and unfortunately that's the tough part is that you got to make decisions on other players contractually that you might not be able to keep that you want to keep," Holmes explained. "So it's not more so due to you don't want to have the players anymore, you just can't have everybody."

In recent months, the Lions have signed Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Taylor Decker and David Montgomery to contract extensions. Now, the team is weighing the next wave, led by Hutchinson.

"We've already kind of gotten to the planning stages about him already," Holmes said.

But there's also safety Kerby Joseph, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025. Then, the next offseason, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch each merit consideration. Jameson Williams is in that mix, too. The salary cap has continued to rise sharply, but not necessarily sharply enough to keep them all.

"That stuff starts adding up and you got to make some tough decisions," Holmes said. "We've already started a lot of that work already, in terms of the preparation and planning, forecasting, cause whatever you do this year is going to impact financially the next year after as well. So it's a lot of work to be done on that front."

That doesn't mean the team won't be looking to bolster the roster through free agency next month. The Lions have been spenders the past two offseasons, signing starting-caliber talent, and Holmes wouldn't dismiss a similar approach this offseason. Regardless, the strategy, as it has been during his tenure, will be centered around the Lions' retaining their own.

"I don't know what that number is, but obviously it does put a limit to how much you can actually spend externally in free agency when you're trying to keep your guys that you know," Holmes said. "What you want to do is you want to keep the known good players and you don't want to compromise them to overspend on unknowns."

As for an edge rusher to complement Hutchinson, an upgrade is perpetually on Holmes’ wish list. The draft could be the best place to find a solution.

"I've always been kind of close to the vest about talking about strengths and weaknesses in a draft, because it's very subjective," Holmes said. "Some people might think it's strong. Some people might think, 'No, it's not as strong.' But this one here, me and (assistant general manager) Ray Agnew were just kind of looking at the totality of, 'Yeah, it's a lot deeper (at defensive line) than what we can remember,' at least in the past couple of years. That's both inside and out for sure."

As for Garrett, as long as his trade request stands unfilled, the dreamers will continue to dream. That said, Browns general manager Andrew Berry remains determined to keep his star in the fold.

"Before I open up for questions, let me just touch on Myles," Berry said to open his media session Tuesday morning. "Myles, as you guys have all heard me say, he's a huge part of our organization, really good person, he's an awesome player. Understand the trade request and everything, but our stance really has not changed. We can't imagine a situation where not having Myles as a part of the organization is best for the Browns."