In 2023, the Lions nearly made it to the Super Bowl but fell short against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Despite this, General Manager Brad Holmes remains focused on sustained success rather than taking a short-term “all-in” approach. He looks to models like the Patriots and Chiefs for inspiration and believes in improving every year through their process rather than chasing a championship window.
The Lions have made key draft picks like Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Kerby Joseph, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta to build their roster. They also acquired quarterback Jared Goff in a trade with the Rams in 2021 and added Carlton Davis, D.J. Reader, and Kevin Zeitler this offseason. Holmes emphasized the importance of sticking to their process during the draft, even if it meant trading out of the first round. He humorously hoped fans would forgive them if they decided to make such a move.