The Detroit Lions have deployed a highly successful draft-and-develop strategy more than any other team in the NFL in the Brad Holmes era. Despite some Lions fans hoping that the front office is more aggressive in free agency and the trade market, the organization has prioritized internal development and retaining talent.
Postseason success may have eluded the Lions so far, but it's impossible to deny that this approach has paid dividends. The Lions have drafted and developed this core, with some of them in later rounds of the draft.
This obviously doesn't always work, as Holmes has had a few big misses like Hendon Hooker, Brodric Martin, Terrion Arnold, or Ennis Rakestraw. But he isn't afraid to trust his big board and reach for the talent that may be lower on most mock drafts.
In 2026, he may have found his gem in Round 6 of the draft. The Lions selected Skyler Gill-Howard with the 205th overall pick in the draft, and he is already looking like an immediate difference-maker.
Skyler Gill-Howard exceeds all expectations with Week 1 display
The rookie defensive tackle had shown positive signs during the preseason. He was one of the highest-graded players for the Lions per Pro Football Focus in the final two preseason games, teasing what was to come during the regular season.
Gill-Howard's NFL debut on Sunday couldn't have gone any better. He ended up playing 47 defensive snaps, more than starting DT Tyleik Williams. He received a 71.6 defensive grade and a 76.8 run defense grade on PFF. This led all rookie DTs in Week 1 and was the second-highest Week 1 grade by a rookie DT over the last three seasons, per Al Karsten on X.
Against a solid Saints' offensive line, Gill-Howard looked like he belonged. He looked fast, athletic, and explosive, even in overtime. In his appearance on 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday, the rookie defender said, "I feel like I’m faster than a lot of guards in this league, so my confidence is at an all-time high."
Before the season, Holmes had praised Gill-Howard's "innate violence," which gives him a chance against bigger, stronger offensive linemen. His energy and effort, combined with his explosiveness, immediately made him a better run defender than Holmes had anticipated at first. Lions GM gave credit to the analytics department for their ability to "find some signal on guys like him," per MLive's Kory Woods.
The Lions had made improving their run defense a priority for this season. But they refused to make a significant addition to the interior defensive line. They were counting on Tyleik Williams' development, Alim McNeill's return to pre-injury form, and Gill-Howard's under-the-radar impact. So far, they have been proven right for putting their trust in their sixth-round pick.
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