The Detroit Lions’ fanbase, a notoriously passionate and often skeptical collective, has been sent a clear and resounding message after the team’s first-round selection in the NFL Draft: trust the process, trust the general manager, and stop questioning Brad Holmes. In a fiery, extended segment on a local sports radio program, analysts and hosts launched a full-throated defense of the embattled executive, arguing that the public’s criticism of his draft strategy is not only misguided but fundamentally ignorant of how successful teams are built. The debate, which has consumed the Motor City’s airwaves and social media feeds, centers on the selection of offensive tackle Blake Miller, a pick that has drawn a mix of confusion, relief, and outright hostility from a fanbase still reeling from a disappointing end to last season.
The conversation erupted after the Lions, holding the 31st overall pick, opted for Miller over other highly touted prospects, including Monroe Freeling. The hosts on the program were quick to establish a unified front, with one declaring, “If you’re unhappy with the Blake Miller pick, there’s nothing Brad could have done to make you happy.” This statement set the tone for a segment that was less about analyzing the pick and more about dismantling the credibility of anyone who dared to question it. The analysts pointed to a pervasive “backlash on Brad Holmes” stemming from what they described as a subpar draft class last year, arguing that fans are now projecting a false narrative of decline onto a general manager who has consistently proven his acumen.
The defense of Holmes was rooted in a fundamental principle that the hosts hammered home repeatedly: his draft board is not the same as the one published by Mel Kiper or any other national analyst. “His board is different than everybody else,” one host insisted, drawing a direct line to the infamous selection of Jack Campbell, a pick that was widely panned at the time but has since blossomed into an All-Pro player. “Brilan walked out of the draft show. I was dead ass wrong about it. Dead ass. Because he’s about to get a contract that starts with a two. He’s an All-Pro player. I was dead ass wrong about that.” This admission served as a powerful rhetorical tool, a confession of past error used to shame current critics into silence.
The segment took a particularly sharp turn when the hosts addressed a fan who had publicly threatened to sell his season tickets in protest of the pick. “Are they sold yet, Nick?” one host taunted, referencing the fan by name. “Have you sold the tickets? Nick, we don’t even know. We got offers the second you said it on the air last night. Somebody offered 5G. Don’t listen to people who say, ‘I’m pissed about this draft pick. I’m selling my tickets.’ If you didn’t sell your tickets after 0 and 6, you’re never selling them.” The mockery was relentless, painting the disgruntled fan as a hypocrite whose outrage was performative and hollow. The hosts even planned to run a recurring segment called “The Crash Out Nick Story” throughout the broadcast, ensuring the fan’s embarrassment would be a running joke.
Beyond the personal attacks, the analysts offered a substantive defense of Miller as a player. They highlighted his background as a state champion wrestler at 317 pounds, a feat they argued proves he possesses the requisite “mean streak” to succeed in the trenches. “That means at some point in your life, you snap somebody’s arm,” one host said, painting a vivid picture of Miller’s physicality. They also noted his 32 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds, a measure of raw strength that they believe translates directly to the NFL. “When you do 32 reps of 225, you’re not a regular guy,” the host continued. “And you know what I like about it, they are getting back to the DNA of pushing people this way and pushing people that way.”
The DNA reference was a recurring theme, with the hosts arguing that the Lions are returning to their identity as a physical, run-first team that controls the clock. They pointed to the team’s 15-2 record last season, a mark achieved despite a porous defense, as proof that the formula works. “When they were 15 and 2, they controlled the clock. They ran the football and Jared Goff had time,” one analyst said. “The defense was bad then, but they still went 15 and 2. And they almost went to the Super Bowl.” The implication was clear: the offense is the engine of this team, and protecting that engine is Holmes’s top priority.
The hosts also addressed the elephant in the room: the possibility that the Lions had targeted another player, Miami’s pick, and “settled” for Miller. They dismissed this notion outright, citing Holmes’s own words from a press conference where he stated that the team had been watching Miller for three years and had seen him improve every season. “He talked about the fact that there were internal discussions about trading up to get Miller,” one host revealed, suggesting that Miller was not a consolation prize but a primary target. “If it was just about the Mel Kiper draft board, then hire Mel Kiper as your GM,” they added, mocking the idea that public rankings should dictate team decisions.
The segment also took a broader view of Holmes’s tenure, reminding listeners of his track record with high-profile picks. The hosts brought up the selection of Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023, a pick that was met with widespread derision at the time but has since become a cornerstone of the offense. “Do you remember how apeshit people went when he drafted Jahmyr Gibbs?” one host asked. “Yes. I was one of them. What the fuck is he doing? Is this a crackhead? It’s me. Now you don’t want I’m the problem. It’s me. That was me, Terry. I’m glad who was right. Brad was right.” This self-deprecating admission was used to argue that fans should learn from their own history of being wrong.
The conversation then pivoted to the future, with the hosts expressing cautious optimism about the team’s ability to address its defensive needs in the later rounds. They advocated for a potential trade-up in the second round to target an edge rusher, specifically mentioning prospects like Zion Young, TJ Parker, and Danny Dennis Sutton. “I would like to see Brad trade up in the second round,” one host said. “You got two fourth-round picks. Give up one of those and your second to get one of these.” However, they acknowledged that the draft is far from over and that Holmes’s history of aggression in the draft, as opposed to free agency, gives them confidence that he will make moves.
The segment concluded with a broader reflection on the state of the fanbase and the nature of criticism. The hosts argued that the backlash against Holmes is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of how the NFL draft works. “Here’s the mistake that we make as a public. We look at Melvin Kiper and all these other dudes and think what their draft board is gospel. It’s not,” one host said. “I’m sure a lot of times the Lions’ draft boards are different. The Packers are different. So, you have to trust the person that is your general manager.” This call for trust was the segment’s ultimate thesis, a plea for patience and faith in a man who has already delivered a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
The hosts also took a moment to address the broader context of the team’s salary cap situation, noting that Miller’s rookie contract will allow the Lions to allocate resources elsewhere, such as paying Jahmyr Gibbs. “When you are in an era now where you’re do you want them to pay Gibbs?” one host asked rhetorically. “There is like a method to what they’re doing here. You have your tackle set for at least the next half decade. One of which is on a rookie contract. So like you want to pay Jahmyr Gibbs, which do you think if we put that to a vote over 50% would?” This financial pragmatism was presented as yet another reason to trust Holmes’s long-term vision.
Despite the overwhelming defense of Holmes, the hosts did acknowledge that the pick was a departure from his usual strategy. “It was surprising because Brad tends to swing for the fences,” one analyst said. “Brad said it as well in his press conference. They’re like, ‘Yeah, this is the safe pick. It was you know you sleep soundly at night knowing you made the pick.’ So that was the only thing for me is it was confusing because they normally don’t do that. But I’m cool with it.” This admission of confusion was quickly followed by a reaffirmation of support, a pattern that defined the entire segment.
The segment also featured a moment of levity when the hosts joked about the draft being over after the first round, a playful jab at fans who might be overly focused on the team’s single pick. “The draft’s over, Terry,” one host said. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot. Never mind. You get one pick and that’s it. It’s a one-round draft. I forgot about that.” This sarcastic remark was a clear signal that the hosts believe the team’s work is far from done and that fans should reserve judgment until the entire draft class is assembled.
In the end, the message from the radio program was unequivocal: Brad Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt. His track record, from the Gibbs pick to the Campbell selection, proves that his board is different and that his instincts are generally correct. The hosts urged fans to stop questioning the process and instead embrace a pick that solidifies the offensive line for the next half-decade. “If you’re unhappy with the Blake Miller pick, there’s nothing Brad could have done to make you happy,” they repeated, a mantra that will likely echo through the Lions’ fanbase for the foreseeable future. The debate is far from over, but for now, the radio hosts have drawn a clear line in the sand: trust the GM, or risk being mocked on air.
