This Was the Worst Choice Made by Brad Holmes While He Was the Lions’ General Manager
Brad Holmes was hired as the Detroit Lions’ general manager in January 2021 with the mission of turning around a struggling franchise. The team had suffered through years of mediocrity and playoff near-misses, and the pressure was on Holmes to make the right decisions to move the Lions toward sustained success. His tenure has been marked by a series of successful draft picks, savvy trades, and a clear vision for the future of the franchise. However, even the best general managers make mistakes, and it’s inarguable that Holmes has had his fair share of missteps.
While it is still early in his tenure, one decision stands out as the worst choice made by Brad Holmes in his time as general manager: the selection of Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Build-Up to the Pick
The 2023 NFL Draft was a pivotal moment for the Detroit Lions. Having had a solid 9-8 record in 2022, the team was in a prime position to take the next step in their rebuilding process. With the 6th and 18th overall picks, the Lions had two chances to make a significant impact in the draft. And yet, when it came time for the Lions’ second selection at No. 12 overall, Holmes made a controversial decision that left many analysts and fans scratching their heads.
While the Lions’ offense in 2022 had shown promise, there were still areas that needed to be addressed. The defensive line needed bolstering, and the secondary could use help. These were the areas most observers expected Holmes to target, especially given the wealth of talent available at those positions in the 2023 draft class.
Instead, Brad Holmes made a head-turning move by selecting Jahmyr Gibbs, a running back from Alabama. At the time, the decision was met with a great deal of confusion and skepticism. Detroit had already invested in the running back position with the solid duo of Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift, and there were other more pressing needs on the roster. Many felt that the 12th overall pick was too high for a running back—especially when the Lions had other glaring holes that could be addressed with this premium selection.
The Positioning of Running Back in the Modern NFL
One of the biggest criticisms of the pick was the value of selecting a running back so high in the draft. Running backs, particularly in today’s NFL, have become less of a priority in terms of draft capital. Teams increasingly rely on committee backfields, and the lifespan of running backs in the league is shorter than ever. The success of teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who have found success with mid- to late-round running backs, has shifted the paradigm on how high a team should draft a player at this position.
By selecting Gibbs at No. 12, Holmes not only passed up the opportunity to add a top-tier defensive player but also made a decision that felt outdated in terms of roster construction. In an era where teams are investing heavily in the passing game and defenses are evolving to counter high-powered offenses, investing significant draft capital in a running back—especially one with a skill set similar to Swift—seemed like a luxury pick for a team with much more pressing needs.
Additionally, Jahmyr Gibbs was not even the best running back in the draft, with many analysts having Bijan Robinson from Texas as the consensus top back. While Robinson went to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, selecting Gibbs at No. 12 still seemed like a reach for a position that typically doesn’t justify such high draft investments. There were several top-tier prospects at other positions—particularly on the defensive side of the ball—that would have likely been better choices for the Lions.
What the Lions Passed Up
At the time of the 12th pick, several potential impact players were still available for the Lions. Defensive stars like Jalen Carter, Tyree Wilson, and Devin Witherspoon were all considered to be top-tier prospects at positions of need for Detroit. Carter, a dominant defensive tackle from Georgia, was seen by many as the best overall player in the draft, and he fell to the 9th pick, just a few spots ahead of the Lions. Wilson, a high-ceiling edge rusher from Texas Tech, was another option that could have given the Lions an immediate upgrade to their pass rush. Witherspoon, a top cornerback from Illinois, was seen as a lockdown corner that could have strengthened Detroit’s secondary.
These players could have been immediate contributors, filling critical needs on a defense that had ranked near the bottom of the league in several categories during the 2022 season. The Lions had the chance to solidify their defense, one of the most glaring weaknesses of the team, yet they passed on the opportunity in favor of a running back who would compete for touches in an already crowded backfield.
Had the Lions selected a player like Carter, Wilson, or Witherspoon, they would have been addressing one of their biggest needs—defense—while also potentially securing an impact player for years to come. The lack of attention to the defense in the early rounds would come back to haunt Detroit as the season unfolded, as their defensive struggles were evident throughout the 2023 campaign.
The Struggles of Jahmyr Gibbs
While it’s still early in Gibbs’ career, there are already signs that the pick may not have been as impactful as the Lions had hoped. By mid-2023, it became clear that Gibbs was not the type of game-changer that would justify a high selection. Despite flashes of talent, Gibbs struggled to make a consistent impact on the field. He was part of a backfield rotation with David Montgomery, who was brought in to be the lead back after the departure of Jamaal Williams.
Gibbs failed to stand out in the way that elite, high-draft running backs typically do. He was not able to consistently win on the ground or as a receiving weapon in the Lions’ offense, which had been expected to be one of the NFL’s most potent. His inability to emerge as a focal point of the offense raised questions about the team’s decision to use such a high pick on a player whose ceiling appeared limited compared to other potential draft choices.
Despite all the hype around his versatility, Gibbs’ production in 2023 was less than expected, and Detroit’s offensive struggles against tough defenses highlighted the lack of a true game-changing force at running back. The Lions’ decision to invest heavily in a position that could be filled with later-round talent raised doubts about the front office’s decision-making.
The Long-Term Impact on the Lions
In the long run, selecting Gibbs with the 12th overall pick may have hindered the Lions’ ability to address their most pressing needs, which was critical for a team still striving for consistency and success in a competitive NFC North. Instead of a potential defensive cornerstone, the Lions were left with a rotational running back, a luxury in a game that increasingly values other positions over running backs.
Holmes’ decision to draft Gibbs—while not disastrous in the sense of being a complete bust—has placed the Lions in a position where they may have missed out on a player who could have made a much more immediate impact on their defense. The choice to ignore the defensive side of the ball while passing up opportunities to land premium talents on that side of the roster could prove to be a decision that haunts the Lions for years to come.
