Earlier this week, we checked in on the popularity of Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. As of Friday morning, Campbell had an approval rating just over 91 percent among Lions fans. Now, let’s turn our attention to general manager Brad Holmes.
Without a doubt, Holmes has faced more scrutiny than just about anyone in the Lions organization these days, save perhaps defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Upset fans point to the fruitlessness of Detroit’s 2024 NFL Draft class—particularly with the first three picks: Terrion Arnold (cut), Ennis Rakestraw (0 starts, 11 games), and Giovanni Manu (four games, one start).
Lately, fans have been frustrated about his insistence prior to the season that they liked the players in their cornerback room (not sure what else he was supposed to say), only to see cornerback clearly be the team’s biggest issue through the first month of the season.
And while Holmes certainly deserves plenty of criticism for how the secondary has turned out this year, it’s also important to point out the clear improvements he’s made on the roster this season. The Lions’ offensive line has made a significant turnaround thanks to the recent investments in Blake Miller, Tate Ratledge, Juice Scruggs, and Christian Mahogany—and we haven’t even seen what Detroit has in Cade Mays yet.
Similarly, the defensive line is finally producing at a top-tier level. Thanks to draft investments in Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, and Tyleik Williams—along with free agent/waiver adds DJ Wonnum and Tyler Lacy—Detroit has an impressive pass rush and strong run defense presence up the middle. Holmes even found an unlikely contributor in sixth-round rookie Skyler Gill-Howard. And, again, we haven’t even seen the full potential of second-round pick Derrick Moore.
And if you look at most of the players Detroit opted to move on from this offseason, they have not been producing on par with the contracts they signed elsewhere.
Still, you have to consider the entire outlook before you vote. Before you do, here’s a look at Holmes’ approval ratings throughout the years.
March 2021 (pre-free agency): 97 percent approval
May 2021 (post-draft): 98 percent
September 2021 (post-cuts): 90 percent
October 2021: 87 percent
November 2021: 79 percent
December 2021: 97 percent
January 2022: 97 percent
March 2022 (pre-free agency): 96 percent
May 2022 (post-draft): 99 percent
September 2022: 95 percent
October 2022: 82 percent
November 2022: 97 percent
January 2023: 99 percent
April 2023 (pre-draft): 98 percent
October 2023: 99 percent
February 2024: 99 percent
May 2024: 99 percent
October 2024: 99 percent
May 2025:96 percent
May 2026: 93 percent
Now it’s time to update the vote. Do you approve of the job Brad Holmes is doing as Detroit Lions general manager? Vote in the poll below: