Bish & Brown: Lions Top 3 Draft Picks - Detroit Lions Podcast

Holmes' one-year plan and a fresh O-line move

Weeks out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast opened with roster building. The focus landed squarely on Brad Holmes and a revealing sit-down he did on The Lions Collective. The headline takeaway according to the hosts: the Lions leaned into affordable one-year deals in free agency. That approach manages short-term cash while keeping a ready-made contender intact.

Holmes also said they are not done in free agency. That point felt validated when an offensive line signing hit the wire the next morning. The move fit the broader plan the hosts heard throughout the interview. Improve the interior, especially center. Maintain flexibility so the team can sign cornerstone pieces like Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta when their time comes.

The conversation acknowledged the scrutiny on the general manager. Pressure follows a roster built to chase a title. One-year deals invite debate, but they also buy options. That was the tone: a disciplined, cap-savvy march rather than a splashy sprint.

Draft board lean: defensive end vs. tackle

The hosts circled back to the NFL Draft. They see the Detroit Lions sitting at 17 and 50 with a likely path toggling between defensive end and offensive tackle. Vice versa works too. Nothing from the Holmes interview screamed a locked-in direction. Still, clues surfaced.

The discussion touched on a run-stout edge already added to the room in Wanam. He profiles as a strong run defender who can give some pass rush. If you are looking for tea leaves, that kind of player type points to a complementary long-term piece at defensive end. Keldrick Falk came up as the sort who mirrors that run-first style in a bigger, younger package. The door remains open to tackle at 17 or 50 depending on how the board falls.

Reading between the lines on roles and re-signings

Holmes did not offer many specifics, but the messaging lined up with existing expectations. The free agency function was to stabilize center, fortify the offensive line, and protect the ability to keep the core together. That means future deals for Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta stay front of mind.

Player evaluation questions remain. Kirby Joseph drew different reads from the room, and the interview did not change those priors. That felt like the theme: confirmation rather than revelation. The calendar matters now. A mock draft is on deck next week. The show expects to go live for the draft on Thursday. The last pieces are moving into place. The plan feels steady, not splashy. For the Detroit Lions, that might be the point.

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