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Lions Skip Safety Draft, Sign Veterans, Cancel Rookie Camp

4/28/2026

Summary

Holmes Signs Veterans

GM Brad Holmes said Lions passed on a safety in the 2026 draft because the class lacked depth, and he signed veterans Chuck Clark and Christian Izien.
The Lions cancelled rookie minicamp and will skip joint practices.
The GM keeps a reminder of missed 2025 playoffs on his wall, noting that recovering safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are trending upward while Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin stay for 2026.

Summary

Lions Draft B-Grade

The Lions' 2026 draft class earned a B grade and was ranked the 12th-best selection pool by USA TODAY Sports.
Blake Miller became the highest-selected Clemson offensive tackle in the common-draft era, going 17th overall.
Derrick Moore recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks at Michigan, placing him among the conference’s top edge rushers.

Summary

Lions Target Linemen

The Lions entered the offseason with 76 players, leaving 14 free-agent slots.
Depth-chart lists Tyleik Williams at nose tackle and Alim McNeill at 3-technique.
The draft added pass-rush specialists Derrick Moore, Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyre West.
After Roy Lopez and DJ Reader left, Williams is the only nose-tackle, prompting a search for another interior lineman and targeting linebackers Germaine Pratt, Jahlani Tavai and edge rushers A.J. Epenesa, Patrick Payton.

History

Historical Context

The Detroit Lions’ 0-16 season in 2008 – the first winless campaign under the 16-game schedule and a franchise-record 517 points allowed – led owner William Clay Ford Sr. to fire GM Matt Millen and head coach Rod Marinelli. The team then drafted quarterback Matthew Stafford first overall in 2009 and began a cycle of high-turnover rebuilding that still shapes GM Brad Holmes’ 2026 roster moves.

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Holmes Signs Veterans

GM Brad Holmes said Lions passed on a safety in the 2026 draft because the class lacked depth, and he signed veterans Chuck Clark and Christian Izien.
The Lions cancelled rookie minicamp and will skip joint practices.
The GM keeps a reminder of missed 2025 playoffs on his wall, noting that recovering safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are trending upward while Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin stay for 2026.

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