Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes concluded the 2025 NFL Draft with a class of seven players — a defensive tackle (Tyleik Williams), two guards (Tate Ratledge & Miles Frazier), one safety (Dan Jackson), one edge rusher (Ahmed Hassanein) and two wide receivers (Isaac TeSlaa & Dominic Lovett).
Holmes and his staff will now hit the phones and work on signing some undrafted free agents to fill the roster to the allowed 90 players in the offseason.
Holmes spoke to the media following the conclusion of the draft, and here are the key questions from that session:
Was it just a coincidence the Lions drafted three players from the University of Georgia?
Ratledge, Jackson and Lovett all played for the Bulldogs, and while Holmes said he didn’t go into the draft with the plan to take all three, he certainly respects the program Kirby Smart has built and the way they develop their players.
“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 – (former Alabama head coach Nick) Saban at Alabama was very similar,” Holmes said.
“But just the intensity, the physicality, the detail, the tempo, the whole thing, the energy, I mean, it’s just — so when you can go through that kind of regimen and you practice like that, that they’re ready. But I think everything that Smart’s done with that program, I think everything speaks for itself.”
How much did Holmes put a value on special teams with some of these prospects, especially the Day 3 selections?
Holmes touted the special teams potential of Jackson and Lovett. Both were key special teams contributors for Georgia last season. Hassanein has some special teams potential as well.
“It’s very important, it’s very important,” he said. “I think I may have made the joke in the past that, in the later round, (special teams coordinator Dave) Fipp could probably come in and just run the Draft.
“When the guy earns a role on teams and he’s good enough to be a part of the depth, man, he’s got a good opportunity to go to the game. 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, no, we’re going with the guy that can contribute on special teams. So, that’s why it’s critically important.”