DETROIT – The Detroit Lions have one of the best general managers in football, but it’s something he decided not to do that showed his greatness once again.
Brad Holmes has turned the Lions -- the most consistent loser in the league over the past 60+ years -- into the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
He’s done pretty much everything well: an incredible hit rate at the top of the draft, a keen eye for talent, and the ability to pull off trades to address needs.
But one of his best moves this offseason might have been the way he handled an opening on the offensive line.
It’s no secret that the strength of the Lions is their offense, and the heart of that unit is the line. Anchored by Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, and Frank Ragnow, the offensive line has been a consistent priority since Holmes and Dan Campbell got to town.
Jonah Jackson was a big part of that line for the past four years. Since being drafted by the Lions in the third round in 2020, Jackson was a rock at the guard position, and his athleticism gave Ben Johnson great versatility in calling plays.
But when Jackson’s contract expired after last season, Holmes made the tough decision to let him leave in free agency. The team chose to reward Jared Goff, Sewell, and Amon-Ra St. Brown extensions instead. Decker and Alim McNeill got theirs shortly afterward.
Jackson signed with Matthew Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams for $51 million, and the Lions replaced him with Kevin Zeitler for $6 million.
Well, Zeitler has been one of the best guards in football, joining Graham Glasgow to polish off an elite offensive line. Meanwhile, Jackson just returned from injury and got benched in favor of a sixth-round pick.
There were some warning signs with Jackson, who missed five games in 2023 and four in 2022. But he was a key piece for two very good Lions teams, and letting him go must have been a tough call.
Jackson is only 27 years old, so he’s by no means finished. But it’s safe to say Holmes made the right decision. He found a way to upgrade an already excellent offensive line for a $45 million discount.
Sometimes what you don’t do is just as important as what you actually do.
It’s just the latest masterclass from the Lions' architect.
