LIONS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BRAD HOLMES DRAFT DAY 2 QUOTE SHEET
April 25, 2025
Opening Statement: “I want to start off by thanking the Kube family for announcing our second-round pick tonight. Very, very thankful. Very appreciative and we were honored, so wanted to give a special shoutout to them.”
On if he will get to sleep in a little bit tomorrow: “I don’t know. I thought I was going to be sleeping in this morning, but I just woke up charged up ready to trade up.”
On why Lions OL Tate Ratledge and Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa were players they wanted to trade up for: “Yeah, well those guys were identified early on in the process just in the evaluation process. Start off with just Tate, obviously been a starting guard for Georgia for a while. Played through some serious toughness, played through some injury stuff, came back, has played at the top level for a long time. I don’t think enough can be said about that level of football that he’s played in. Tough kid, great locker room guy. I think you guys are going to enjoy getting to know him. But he’s got a little bit more versatility. He rose more as the process went along because of his versatility that we were able to find out a little bit more about. I thought that he would fit in just like a glove here. Then TeSlaa, he was one – saw him at the Senior Bowl when I went down there and hadn’t watched his film yet, but saw how he was in the run game in the team periods just his blocking and his size. He was just being a pest and he was just pissing off the DBs and the defenders and obviously it just made me want to completely watch the tape and you see a guy that’s just big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run. He’s a hands catcher, can play special teams, can block so can do a lot of things. We’re really excited to land both of them. Really, it’s just at some point you’re going to run out of the – the well runs dry at some points in these Drafts, so you better get the guys you really, really want then you’ve got to worry about the rest later. I do look at the stuff later. I do look at what we have in the future and when we do trade future picks and all that stuff. I feel comfortable with it, but as long as the guys that we love – we don’t flinch, we just go get them.”
On if he views Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa as a player that is able to play in the slot and on the outside: “Absolutely. I think he’ll be able to do both. Again, just like any other receiver he’s going to need to develop but he’s got the tools to play outside and win outside. He’s going to have to learn getting off press and all that stuff just like they all do, but he’s got all the physical tools and he’s got the intangible makeup to be able to overcome that.”
On how much Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa’s backstory stood out to him: “Yeah, it was huge. It was huge. Obviously I knew all about his story before I met him, but just to hear him walk me and (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) through it in terms of just him getting to Hillsdale and how that process worked and even his family and the connection there. And then, going to Arkansas and the higher production the year before and then it dipped down and just the explanation from there, I thought he handled it very professionally. I’m not sure if he told you, but when he came on his Top 30 visit he had on a Lions jersey. I thought he just did a cheesy mood just to do – some fanboy stuff and I was like, ‘Come on, he didn’t put a Lions jersey on.’ But no, he said, ‘No, I’ve had this since the eighth grade. What better time to wear it than now?’ And so, I really respected that. But he truly grew up as a Lions fan through and through. But obviously that is not why we were excited to go up there and pick him. We were excited to go up there and pick him because he’s big, he can run, he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a hands catcher and he blocks and he plays special teams and that’s why we were excited to go and get him.”
On when he feels enough conviction about a player to trade up for him: “It’s just like, look, who are those guys that you just have that gut feeling about that you really want them? And especially if it’s a universal, if it’s an aligned – if me and (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) are aligned in our conviction and our love for the player, which usually we are, you just feel it. The more that we looked at – obviously I looked at (Lions DL) Tyleik (Williams) a lot more than before Dan got in, but I wasn’t surprised Dan loved Tyleik because that’s one of his guys. That’s his type of player. That’s my type of player. He fits right in. He’s the type of guy we like. I wasn’t shocked that he was going to love (Lions WR Isaac) TeSlaa. He’s everything that we’re about. (Lions OL) Tate Ratledge, I mean – so, you have to feel it in your gut and that conviction feels. It happens at different parts. When I first saw TeSlaa at the Senior Bowl, that’s when I was like, ‘Woah, who’s this kid blocking like that?’ Then you watch the tape and I’m thinking like OK, ‘He blocks, OK fine.’ But he shows all this other stuff. The same thing with Ratledge.”
On if it was a disappointment that they did not select an edge rusher: “No, I wouldn’t say it’s a disappointment because we got all guys that we love. Just like I told you guys before the Draft, we could’ve drafted an edge rusher that plays that position. We could’ve done that, and you all would’ve been happy, right? You would’ve been happy if we drafted an edge rusher? All I hear is, ‘Edge rusher, draft an edge rusher.’ Well, are you assuming that the guy is really good? Well, that’s a whole different story. Can you get in position to get one of those? I don’t need to get into specifics, but there were times we made attempts to get one and you just – they got picked before, you couldn’t get up. It takes two to trade. Or, we had another player higher. But we did the same thing that we do every Draft. We picked the highest-rated player regardless of position. So that’s what we did this whole way through. That’s what we’re going to do again tomorrow. So yes, we could’ve – there are some edge rushers still available. We don’t have them rated this high. We’re going to always get the best player.”
On if the search for an edge rusher continues: “The search for an edge rusher? I mean, we’re always going to look for an edge rusher. I told you guys that.”
On what traits he looks for in an edge rusher: “He’s got to win rushes, he’s got to set edges. That’s what he’s got to do. However he’s going to win rushes, whether it’s through pocket, through long-arming, if he can turn speed to power, if he can – if he has the instincts, he has the craftiness with his hands, even if he doesn’t have top juice but you can still win rushes. So yeah, obviously, that’s why you’re asking about – that’s why you guys keep asking about that position, right? Because it’s like – you look at a ‘Madden’ diagram and the arrow’s pointing up – like an arrow is drawing. And it doesn’t always work that way, that’s not how the defensive end position always plays, just an arrow running a hoop. But yes, he’s got to win rushes, and he’s got to be able to set edges.”
On if there is a scenario where the Lions do not select an edge rusher in this Draft: “If we don’t, we don’t. We’re not going to chase a position. The guy has to be a good player that we love. Now, I’m not saying that there are not good players that other people might have higher – might be. But we’re not going to take a player that we don’t value as high just because he plays a position. I’ve been telling you guys that forever. I don’t know why – but, I mean, you guys keep asking the question because we had injuries last year, right? I just want to make that clear, right? Because we had injuries last year, that’s why you guys keep – that’s fair.”
On where they will find an edge rusher if they do not select one in the Draft: “We’ll keep looking. I mean, we’ll turn over every stone. There are other avenues in the player acquisition process, so it doesn’t stop at the Draft, so we’ll see. But no, I mean, it’s a fair statement. But I mean, just because you don’t draft one doesn’t mean – we had one last year at the trade deadline. But that’s not – it’s more on the top of y’alls priority than it is on the top of our priority.”
On if Ravens DE Mike Green – the product out of Marshall – was on the Lions’ Draft board: “I’ll keep that to ourselves.”
On how his view of the receiver position has changed throughout his career and what traits he looks for at receiver: “Yeah, I think a lot – so much goes into – especially in this world, so much goes into the highlights and the explosive plays, and those are great, and the 40 times and all this and that, but man, look, the guy’s got to have instincts. He’s got to be a football player, and he’s got to be tough. There’s a lot of dirty work involved at that position, and it’s a hard position to learn. So, you’ve got to be really, really smart, you’ve got to be able to do a lot of different roles, you’ve got to be able to dig out safeties, you’ve got to be able to do a lot of different things in the run game. Yeah, we’ve had an explosive run game for the past few years, but that’s because our wide receivers block, and if your wide receivers don’t block, you can’t have an explosive running game. But you have to want to be able to block, you have to be tough. And there are some guys that might be very explosive and maybe run fast and have great hands, but if they’re not tough and physical – so that’s kind of – it’s that and also being able to run through a tackle.”
On if fortifying the offensive and defensive line was imperative in this Draft: “Yeah. I mean we would’ve like to have come away – we knew that we wanted to add more youth into the offensive line, and like I told you guys, maybe at the end of the season, that’s always going to be at the forefront, no matter what. So, that’s always going to go into every single Draft probably. But the defensive line, the same way. I mean, that’s the foundation of – that’s where games are won, and so I think it’s going to always be of importance. It’s not going to be just, ‘You’ve got to have this edge rusher, you’ve got to have this –‘ The OL, DL, it starts there.”
On how exciting it is to have Lions G Tate Ratledge and Lions OL Christian Mahogany share a dirtbag mentality: “I think that’s going to be cool, both those guys being in the locker room together and in that O-line room together. But yeah, that’s just – again, just like Mahogany fit what we were looking for, Tate fits what we’re looking for. Whether he’s got his mullet or not – but he plays the game the right way. He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s a lot more athletic than you may think, and he’s got a lot more versatility than people may realize, and that’s when he really, really rose through the process for us. But yeah, those guys fit. They’re smart, they’re tough, they’re gritty, and they play our style of ball.”
On his philosophy on compensatory picks: “I think they’re great, you’ve just got to be strategic in terms of how you utilize them. So again, we were – you’ve got to be convicted on the player if you’re going to spend it, and I know that that was two thirds for next year. Quite frankly, I just – we’re not picking in the third round next year. But again, those are the decisions that you’ve got to be at peace with, and obviously the comp pick is really, really late. But a lot of teams discount our picks for trades really, really late as well, so all those things come into play. But the comp pick, for sure – yeah, they’re very valuable, they were valuable today.”
On if acquiring compensatory picks will come into play in the future: “Yes, absolutely. We talk about that every year. When do you stop spending over a certain amount, and in terms of what you’re going to be losing? So, we strategically go over that every year just to see what we can possibly come up with and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s something that’s always at the top of mind during free agency.”
On if the “H.W.S.” letters on his sweatshirt stand for “height, weight and speed”: “Height, weight, speed – it is the opposite of film evaluation, and we’re all about film evaluation, and that’s the hard part of scouting. Height, weight (and) speed is easy. Stats are easy. A position listed is easy. But film evaluation is hard to figure out.”
LIONS FIRST-ROUND DRAFT SELECTION (NO. 57 OVERALL) G TATE RATLEDGE DRAFT DAY 2 QUOTE SHEET
On receiving the call from the Lions and what it means to him: “I mean, it was out of nowhere. I didn’t – I couldn’t even process what was going on when I got the call. I mean, this means the world to me, I mean, it means the world to my family, every sacrifice they’ve made to help me get here. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better team, a better situation to go to. I mean, I’m just – I’m so excited, I still haven’t even really, fully processed it yet.”
On why this is the best team for him: “I mean, I’ve always been a fan of (Lions Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell and the way he runs his program, just seeing what he has to say, how he runs this team, the way his offensive line plays. Just everything about the way he runs this team, I feel like, is a great fit.”
On if he has a lion tattoo on his arm: “Yeah, there is actually a tattoo of a lion on my forearm. That kind of came full circle and I didn’t even process that until now, but I mean, just a little bit of foreshadowing, I guess.”
On the backstory behind his tattoo of a lion: “I mean, I think lions are the king of the jungle for a reason. Just their mentality, their attitude, the way they go about their whole life. I mean, I think that’s just something that I kind of attached my lifestyle to, just that mentality that is never satisfied, never quits. So, I think that’s something that ties into my life and the way I play the game.”
On when he got his lion tattoo: “I got it probably about a year ago.”
On whether he had contact with Lions Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Hank Fraley during the pre-draft process: “Yeah, I had a formal Combine meeting, and just our talks during that meeting were extensive about their system, about just knowing football. And I think the way me and him went back and forth just talking about football was awesome. As far as their offensive line goes, like you said, they’ve had one of the best offensive lines in the League for a while now. They’ve got great players up there, the way they play. They’re physical. They’re tough. They play fast. It’s tape I watch a decent bit, watching them play and see how they play, and seeing what I can learn from it.”
On current Lions OL Christian Mahogany already referring to himself as a dirtbag just like he does: “I mean, I think you’ve got to have a little bit of that in you to play this game, especially this position. I think everybody that plays this position at a high level has a little bit of that in them, some more than others, but I think everybody has got that in them. So, I think it’s a great thing to have, more than one guy, and I think they have a lot of them by watching them play.”
On how it feels being drafted by a team that is considered a Super Bowl contender: “I’m in the spot right now where all I can do is ask for a chance to compete. I think I have a lot of those traits to go to a winning program, coming from one, knowing what it takes, knowing what has to be done to win. So, right now, I’m in the position where all I can ask for is a shot to compete. Go in there, compete, and give it my all every day, and try to make that team better.”
On how much he sees similarities between the University of Georgia football program and the Lions: “I see a lot of similarities. You don’t really get as much of an inside look of what they actually do in their building. But as far as what Coach (Kirby) Smart and what Coach (Dan) Campbell believe in, I think they’re right (in) line with each other. I think they both believe in physical football players, tough football players, smart football players, and I think they both have a lot of those on their teams. I think that’s the area that I fit in, and I’m just excited to get up there.”
On his positional versatility and if he feels like he is locked into playing right guard based on his college history: “I’m here to do whatever helps the team win. I’m a team player through and through. They need me to kick out at tackle, I’ll go kick out at tackle. They need me to be an X receiver and run go balls, I can do that. I think it’s down to what they need me to do and what they see me as. And then like I said earlier, I just want a chance to compete and a chance to go out there and do my best every day. That’s really all I’m into right now.”
On the challenge of switching positions as an offensive lineman: “I mean, it is different. It’s flipping your technique. Last fall camp I took a lot of snaps at center. Just like I can imagine going to left guard, I mean, it was a big transition. I had to get used to it. It took me a few days. I think when it comes down to it, a lot of the same rules apply. It’s just figuring out different footwork, hand placement, how to set people and how to run block people. It’s just figuring out different techniques and how to perfect those at different positions.”
On being voted a team captain at Georgia and the background on his mullet hairstyle: “I think I was in a position on our team last year where I really had to step into that leadership role. I was an older guy, knew all the guys in the building. It’s just something that came naturally, but something I really accepted and stepped into. I think I was a guy who got the team going a lot of the time. I took charge of the huddle. I took charge of the locker room. That’s kind of how that went. I think I had enough respect around the locker room to where I was in that position. But the mullet, it kind of started as a joke during COVID. My dad cut it in our front yard. It was just a complete joke, ended up keeping it, had like an eight-month awkward phase, now it’s turned into this. So, it is what it is. It’s caught a lot of attention, I guess.”
On when was the last time he played left guard in a game: “I played left tackle in high school. I took two snaps against Florida last year at left guard that were really random. We ended up switching guards for two plays, but I took two snaps there.”
On the pride he took playing through injuries in college: “I think, my teammates, the passion we all have for the game, how close we have gotten, the connection we have. I mean, I’ve got multiple guys I have played with that are going to be in my wedding. So, I think the love I have for those guys, the love I have for that team, the love I have for football, is what pushed me to play through being hurt or something not feeling great. So, it was always just important for me to get out there for those guys, especially if I knew that they needed me out there.”
On when he is getting married: “Next March.”
On his draft party experience: “It was through the roof. I’ve got around 25 people here. They’re all my closest friends, family. I think they’re all like me right now. I don’t think they know how to process it. I mean, it’s a lot of people that have helped me get to this point, and without them, I wouldn’t be at this point. So, I think it was important for them to see me go through this moment and know that they’re important to me.”
On whether he took a top 30 visit with the Lions: “I did not.”
LIONS THIRD-ROUND DRAFT SELECTION (NO. 70 OVERALL) WR ISAAC TeSLAA DRAFT DAY 2 QUOTE SHEET
On what it feels like to be drafted by the Lions: “I don’t know if I have the words right now. I’m still processing it right now. Obviously, it’s been not only a dream to play in the NFL, but to play for my hometown team, the team I’ve rooted for since I’ve been a baby – it’s just an incredible feeling. I’m just ready to go to work, get to the facility and put the work in.”
On where he sees his future at the wide receiver position and how he thinks he can expand his game both as a slot and outside receiver: “I see myself as someone who can play both positions. Obviously, I have a big frame – speed, size, everything. So, that’s outside receiver, but I can also be moved to the slot. I feel like I bring a lot of versatility, and like you said, there’s always room to grow. I think if you talk to anyone in the NFL, even the best of the best, they tell you there’s always room for improvement. So, for me, that’s my mentality, just coming in, doing everything I can do and just continuing to improve every single day.”
On the players he models his game after: “I think someone I really enjoy watching would be (Rams WR) Puka Nacua. I think he does so many things so well. You can move him inside, outside, he’s great against man, he’s great against zone. He uses his size, you can put him in motion, he can block in the run game, great in play-action. I just think he does so many things well and I think that’s something I can bring to the table.”
On what it means to join the Lions wide receiver room: “Man, I’m pumped. I’m so excited. Like you said, so much to learn. So many different skillsets, obviously. Veterans, new guys – so many different talents and so many different backgrounds that I’m going to be able to learn from. Obviously, there’s so much talent in that room, and I’m just excited – like I said – to learn from all of them, but to bring something else – something new – to the room as well.”
On what his top-30 visit with the team was like: “It was great. I got to the facility and we did a little tour of the facility (and) a little medical check to make sure everything’s looking good. From there, just meeting with the coaching staff, starting with the special teams (coach), kind of rotating to the whole offensive staff. We met with – all the other guys I was there with – being able to sit down with (Head Coach) Dan Campbell and (Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad Holmes and kind of talk life, talk ball – I just got such a good feel for the culture here, obviously. The Lions are good for a reason, and they were able to turn this program around for a reason. Just so many talented players, an incredible culture, and obviously they’ve done incredible in the Draft these past few years, so it’s cool to be a part of that.”
On what it’s like to be a member of the team he grew up rooting for: “I mean it’s a fun feeling, let me tell you. Not everyone gets to experience this, and I’m just extremely grateful. Obviously, God’s had a plan for me my entire life, and who know that plan was going to play for the Detroit Lions some day? I’m just extremely grateful, and like I said, I’m just ready to come to work. Obviously, it’s been fun watching games from the TV, but it’s going to be even better to be on the field with them.”
On his experience as a Lions fan and favorite players he rooted for: “I mean I’ve been a fan – like I said – since I was a baby. My dad was a huge Lions fan his whole life, so I grew up watching every single game every Sunday, Thursday, Monday, whenever they were playing. I remember going to a Saturday night game where Calvin Johnson set the record. I remember growing up watching Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, all those guys. Those were the guys I grew up watching as a kid. Like I said, it’s cool to be a part of that team now.”
