Brad Holmes versus Howard Roseman

[1984Echoes]

I believe this to be a topic all its own.

And not just Roseman, but other GM approaches as well.

And the final tally won't be known until 5-10 years out.

The winner?

Whoever gets into the most Super Bowls. (Wins are "gravy" or bonus points... I hope to have LOTS of gravy over the next 10 years on my Detroit Lions Super Bowl mashed potatoes!!!)

The debate?

Which approach wins...

Brad Holmes "build from within"?

Howard Roseman: do whatever is necessary to buy/trade for veteran talent that gets those Super Bowl appearances.

Cases in points: 

Philadelphia Eagles: Have been in 3 Super Bowls in the past 8 years: Winning in 2018 and 2025, losing in 2023.

Green Bay has also been in 3 Super Bowls recently... but not as recent as the Eagles... winning in 2011 and 1996, losing in 1997.

Holmes team-building philosophy most resembles Green Bay's. A huge emphasis on drafting and building from within. And Brad has displayed a sharp acumen for drafting the right players... in any round and even as undrafted free agents or waiver pickups... etc.

I love him!!! (Football love that is...)

Alternatively: Philly has not been shy about signing expensive free agents or making big trades (he JUST traded for the Dolphins Jaelan Phillips this morning!!! For a 3rd rounder...)

So my question is: Who gets into the most Super Bowls from the NFC over the next 10 years? Lions? Eagles? Packers? (or fill in an alternative if that is what you believe...).

An IMPOSSIBLE question to answer...

But a ripe topic for discussion?

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Let me preface my points by saying that I love what Brad Holmes has been doing here in Detroit. He's been a very good GM all on his own accord. He's of course been a very good GM compared to the dog**** GMs we've had over the years from Russ Thomas to Matt Millen to Bob Quinn. My earliest memories of watching the Lions are from about 1992 when i was 5 years old and I think Holmes has easily assembled the most talented team of my lifetime. So I am very happy he is our GM and very happy with the job he has done.

That said, I am impatient, as many Lions fans are. I want, we all want, a Super Bowl appearance. In the NFL, your window could be long or it could close in the next season. Just ask fans of organizations like Arizona, Carolina, Jacksonville who had success one season and dropped off a cliff the next season. I'm not saying we will drop off a cliff, I don't believe we will. I do believe though that you have to strike while the iron is hot and do everything you can to win while your window is open.

Winning when your window is open doesn't mean you have to go full efff them picks mode like Les Snead in the Rams and trade the next 2-3 years worth of first round draft capital just to make a Super Bowl. I don't want our future completely mortgaged just to make or win a Super Bowl now. That said, something I feel that Holmes' former boss Snead and also Howie Roseman do understand is you have to be aggressive and strike while the iron is hot. They understand that you have a certain window to win and have to maximize your team's potential within that window. I don't think Holmes subscribes to this theory.

Rather, I think Holmes is the turtle in the rabbit race. Slow and steady wins the race. Meaning, you work with your staff and put a plan together. A plan that involves building a roster of largely your players, that you've drafted or already had in house. It means valuing draft capital as an asset for the draft, not assets to be traded for name-value or current NFL players. No matter what the fanbase, the media, the pundits, or other organizations think the Lions window to win may or may not be, Holmes doesn't care. And nor should he. As a GM, you have to be confident in your plan and have faith in the process. That doesn't mean though that you can't deviate once in a great while if a really good player can help your team at a position of need or a help put you over the top in being the very best team.

It's my and other fans impatience and notion that we are, already, a very good team, that makes us want to be more aggressive like a Roseman or Snead are. It's why we want Trey Hendrickson or Kevin Zietler or some sort of big time move to be made. When we see other, more successful GMs around Brad making moves and him largely standing pat or only making minor, depth-type moves, fans do get a bit frustrated. I know I certainly do.

[1984Echoes]

I think this topic is going to be a never-ending discussion for at least the next 10 years...

But if he's able to get us into multiple SB's (with a little help from DC and his coaching staff and, uh... oh yes, the players too! 😉); then it may render the differences between him and Roseman/Snead moot.

As long as he can get players that help us there, even if it's cheaper guys than the big names... and it gets us SB's; I won't complain. I don't necessarily need the big names (but yes... I'm attracted to them too because... SHINY OBJECTS!!!)

But again, if he finds "under-the-radar" guys, which he seems to be able to do... and they are "effective"... and it costs us a 6th or 7th instead of a 2nd or 3rd...

I'm good.

[Jimbo]

I think when Brad and Dan took over this franchise, the most important thing was to change was the culture.  That is why I think his job was a lot harder than the others that he is being compared to.  I do think its fare to compare him to the top GM's in the league now though.  He is in discussion for the best GM in the league.  I do not think his legacy will only be if he wins Superbowls although if he wants to be considered one of the best of his time or ever than that is something he should be judged on.  In my opinion, his tenure is already a success.  Taking the worst (or top 5) franchise in sports history to being very relevant and respected in a short time is already a great feat.  Will he be the next Dombrowski or will he be a legend like Jack McCloskey/Ken Holland is the question.

[Motown Bombers]

Why should Roseman hold onto his players like Josh Sweat or Milton Williams when he could have Za’Darius Smith and Jaelan Phillips? 

[1984Echoes]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

...  I do not think his legacy will only be if he wins Superbowls although if he wants to be considered one of the best of his time or ever than that is something he should be judged on...

From "fixing the Lions" perspective: he's the best. At least since the 1940's/50's or so. Not counting whether he makes SB's or not.

As for legacy... he's raised Lions' expectations dramatically.

So now... 

I believe we will be looking specifically at his legacy...

And while that doesn't require SB wins (he's not carrying or throwing or catching or tackling the football...); I think absolutely we will be looking at how many SB appearances we make. 

He has to give DC enough healthy/ capable football players to get us there. His decisions will be a big factor in that. Not everything is on him... but he will be quite a large factor in any SB appearance. Or wins.

IMO.

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 05:45 PM by 1984Echoes

[Motown Bombers]

Roseman has been in the GM capacity since 2010. He didn’t have final say during the Reid years or Chip Kelly, but he’s been in the front office a lot longer than Holmes and inherited a much better team.