The Detroit Lions have become one of the best teams in the NFL under the roster building direction of general manager Brad Holmes. He is the face of processes in free agency and the draft that are working very well, but others are obviously involved and deserve credit too. At the front of that is virtually unrivaled synergy with head coach Dan Campbell.
In evidence of how much time flies, this offseason is Holmes’ fifth as Lions’ general manager since he and Campbell were hired in 2021. No general manager’s record is flawless, but the approach the Lions take in free agency sets the team up for sustained success around a core group of players that are home-grown.
So with the idea this is Holmes’ fifth run in free agency, here are his five best free agent signings to this point.
Ranking the 5 best free agent signings for Brad Holmes as Lions’ general manager so far
5. OL Graham Glasgow
Glasgow came back to the Lions on a one-year deal in 2023, and all he did was post a top-10 Pro Football Focus grade among guards while mostly playing right guard (but also making starts at the other two interior line spots). He was rewarded with a three-year deal last offseason.
As a testament to his versatility, the Lions were comfortable moving Glasgow to left guard last season to accommodate the signing of Kevin Zeitler to play right guard. The move did not go well for Glasgow
Glasgow may face competition for the starting spot at left guard, or he could shift back to right guard if Zeitler leaves in free agency. That 2023 season is starting to look like an outlier based on the recent years of his career, but the return on investment for the Lions that season was excellent and his versatility is an asset.
4. WR Kalif Raymond
After bouncing around the league for a few years, Raymond was as free as a free agent gets in 2021. Campbell has subsequently revealed “Leaf” was the first player he and Holmes were in agreement on signing, and they knew he’d fit the culture they sought to build.
Though arguably way underutilized in the Lions’ offense the last couple seasons, Raymond has become one of the best punt returners in the NFL. Despite missing five games last season, he led the league in total punt return yards while averaging 13.8 yards per return.
Raymond’s future with the Lions is somewhat subject to speculation this offseason. But there’s no doubt Holmes nailed the initial move to sign him.
Glasgow came back to the Lions as a free agent in 2023, and all he did was post a top-10 Pro Football Focus grade among guards while mostly playing right guard (but also making starts at the other two interior line spots).
3. LB Alex Anzalone
Anzalone had history with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn from their time with the New Orleans Saints when the linebacker was part of the Holmes-Campbell regime’s first free agency class, on a one-year deal worth less than $2 million.
For a couple seasons, Anzalone was a replaceable talent who was not going to be replaced because the coaching staff valued his intangibles. The last two seasons he has been graded as a top-35 linebacker by PFF, and when he missed seven games with a broken arm last season the Lions’ defense fell off a cliff. If not for the injury, Anzalone was on pace to top 100 tackles (and possibly 120) in a third straight season.
Anzalone is a leader and a culture fit who has become a noticeably good linebacker later than a lot of other players might have become noticeably better.
2. OG Kevin Zeitler
Starting the second week of 2024 free agency, the Lions got Zeitler on a one-year, $6 million deal. The veteran then went out and posted the third-best PFF grade among guards last season, with the second-best run blocking grade at the position and excellent efficiency as a pass blocker.
At 35 years old (on March 8), Zeitler is in line to cash in as a free agent if he wants to. Re-signing him is surely a top priority for the Lions, but the front office will surely be ready to make a quick pivot if Zeitler is going to be gone.
1. RB David Montgomery
Speaking of free agency pivots, Montgomery will indefinitely stand as Holmes’ best. When talks were apparently going nowhere with Jamaal Williams in 2023, the Lions made a surprising pivot to Montgomery, who was widely regarded as the top free agent running back that year. While Williams thought the Lions disrespected him with their contract offer, one report said the Lions got Montgomery on basically the same contract they offered Williams.
Montgomery was easy to see as a better player than Williams, and over two seasons as a Lion he has done nothing but prove it. If not for a knee injury that cost him the last three games last season, he might have topped 1,000 yards on the ground like he did in 2023. The Lions also gave him a two-year contract extension last fall. Meanwhile, Williams has been cut by the Saints after two dismal seasons.
Montgomery proved himself as an all-around culture fit in Detroit right away, while also being more talented than the guy he replaced. Williams took it personally when the Lions didn’t bend over backwards to keep him, but it was good business to sign Montgomery and time has only proven that more and more.
