LIONS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BRAD HOLMES AND LIONS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER RAY AGNEW QUOTE SHEET
August 28, 2025
Opening Statement: (Holmes) “Good to see everybody. Just want to start out by thanking the players. All their hard work, all their efforts that they put into the camp. I know we always talk about training camp, but they’ve been preparing for months and months and months to get to this point before we even started. The end goal always is to make the team, so obviously the ones that did make the team, congratulations to them. A lot of respect for everybody though and the ones that – it’s hard to ask players to give you their best and then when they do give you their best, to tell them that they did not make the team. It’s very hard to do. But, ton of respect, much appreciation for all of them. I thought (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) did an amazing job. I thought he was awesome in terms of management and preparation throughout the whole camp. That’s a lot that you have to work through. You’ve got older players, you’ve got younger players. I mean you’ve got to make sure – you’ve got to get loads, intensities, players that may not be available at certain points. So, it’s a lot that goes into it but I thought that he did an awesome job – and all the coordinators, all the assistant coaches. We had new coaches, I’m very impressed getting a little bit more up close with them, seeing them work on a daily basis. And then even some older coaches that were in new spots, very, very impressed. So we’re in really good hands – I think you saw that. You saw some players that got better, made some jumps, so they definitely play a big hand in that. Thought our personnel department did a great job. They worked their tails off. Ray’s watched a lot of tape here. Preseason tape, it’s a lot of players that you’re working through, it is a lot of players. And so, to even be able to come up with just a handful of players at the very end, but it was a very organized process, but it’s a grind. And the whole staff, it’s all hands on deck to have a successful camp. When you start getting into joint practices, it’s a lot of operations and logistics and it’s a lot that goes into it. So, just much appreciation, too many people to name to give thanks to individually. But I think everybody knows it’s all hands on deck, so appreciate it.”
On if there are any players who caught their eye with the developmental progress they made this summer: (Holmes) “Yeah. I thought (Lions CB) Terrion (Arnold) made a great jump from what he showed. I thought before he unfortunately got injured, I thought (Lions CB Ennis) Rakestraw (Jr.) was looking great out there. And I think it’s well known at this point what (Lions WR) Jameson Williams has done to this point. And then we’ve got some young guys on that offensive line. I think (Lions OL) Christian Mahogany, he’s made a jump, he’s gotten even better from the optimism that he showed last year. But yeah, it’s a number of guys. I think, and I’m just speaking to the young guys, I mean guys like (Lions LB) Jack (Campbell) keeps getting better and better. But it’s a number of them that I could rattle off. But yeah, I was impressed with a lot of them.”
On if the team will not go for developmental projects anymore and if that puts more pressure on the developmental players that are on the roster now: (Holmes) “Ray’s laughing because I – look, that’s something that we talked about. It’s not that we won’t go for that anymore, I think everyone is case-by-case so it’s not just, ‘Oh, every developmental prospect is in a vacuum.’ But it’s just, I think where we’re at as a roster right now, you’re just more cognizant of it. I think there’s times and windows to strike here and there, but you’re just more aware of it as opposed to when we first started. We just had a lot more room for those guys and had a lot more time. So, I would never say that we would not take a developmental player, but it’s just got to be the right situation.”
On the lessons he takes away from what happened with former Lions QB Hendon Hooker and former Lions DL Brodric Martin: (Holmes) “Yeah, look, I think all you can do is put all the work in and feel good when you take the player. Look, I think there’s risk involved with every single pick that you do. There was a great definition of risk – man, I’m drawing a blank on the book. It was one of Morgan Housel’s books. I’m not sure if it was Morgan Housel’s quote but he said, ‘Risk is what’s left after you think you’ve thought of everything.’ And I think it’s a very clear, vivid illustration of I don’t know how much more preparation that we could have done when we select these players, but it’s just a respect of the unknown. Unfortunately, they did not meet expectations in the timely manner that we would have liked for them to do, but you’ve just got to just look at it. I’m a big self-assessment individual, after I actually review, look at it, analyze it. I think we’ve already identified some areas already. But yeah, you’ve just got to learn, you’ve just got to grow and get better.”
On whether or not he would have taken former Lions QB Hendon Hooker in the Draft this year: (Holmes) “We still would have done it because we still brought in a backup to compete with Hendon with (Lions QB) Kyle Allen. So, yeah, I can’t say that we wouldn’t have done it again. We felt good about the pick. I don’t think we would’ve done anything from a preparation standpoint to get us confident about selecting him. But if I’m hearing your question correctly, yes, we still would have. I’ve looked at that a thousand times, looked back at it, say, ‘OK, if the player’s not meeting expectations? OK, what would (we) have done different?’ Now the hindsight’s very easy, always, but I’ve looked at it. I mean Ray can tell you, I’ve looked at – me and Ray have looked at it and it was like, ‘What else would we have?’ And no, there was nothing. That’s Hendon, (former Lions DL) Brodric (Martin), whatever the case was. But your specific question about Hendon, there was nothing from a preparation standpoint that would have swayed our decision.”
On whether or not he is comfortable with drafting players with injuries now like he did with former Lions QB Hendon Hooker: (Holmes) “I think it’s all case-by-case, it depends what the injury is. But, just a player that has an injury, that usually doesn’t deter – I mean, we traded up first round to get (Lions WR) Jameson Williams coming off an ACL.”
(Agnew) “It’s kind of easy to pick those two players out. You talk about those two players, we did a lot of work on both of those guys. We believed they had the talent to play in this League. The first thing that comes to my mind is the kid, I think about the kid. The kid, for the first time in his life he’s being told, ‘You’re not good enough,’ and how’s he doing mentally, how’s he doing. Cause every time you get a change of scenery, things could go better for a kid and some kids just need a change of scenery. And maybe that’s what’s going to happen for both of those kids. It’s easy to pick those two kids out, but those two kids are talented kids and we did a lot of work on those kids and wish the best for them first and foremost in their new endeavor.”
On if bringing former Lions EDGE Za’Darius Smith back to the team is still a possibility with the open roster spot: (Holmes) “You guys know me, anything’s a possibility at any point. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But, the one open roster spot, we just have one open roster spot. It’s not for a specific player, it’s for the player that makes the most sense for us, whoever that player may be. We went into last year, I think, with 52 and it just gives you some flexibility. But it’s not just about that player, it’s just whatever is going to be the best. But it gives us some good flexibility. We cut it down to 50 this year, I thought it was awesome. I loved it. I don’t think it’ll be the last time that you’ll see that.”
On his philosophy of making roster flexibility by cutting the roster to less than the 53-player maximum on cutdown day: (Holmes) “Well first of all, it’s the players that make the team, make the team. We don’t say, ‘Well, who are the first three out? Let’s put them on the team. They didn’t really, but.’ That’s not how it works around here. So, we had 50 guys make the team and I think that’s credit of how the level has gotten on the roster. But it does give you a lot of flexibility when you start getting into trades and claims and possible external additions that you don’t have to worry about. Or releasing somebody that you’re making plans on keeping and this and that. I like the flexibility that gives us.”
On whether or not there have been active talks recently with former Lions EDGE Za’Darius Smith: (Holmes) “Not recently, no.”
On what the trade of former Lions WR Tim Patrick says about early opportunities for Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa and his development during this offseason: (Holmes) “Yeah, for Tim – first of all, outstanding individual, I mean you’re talking about a pro’s pro, everything that we were about. I think everything – him coming in last year, going on the practice squad, earning. I mean, he was – Tim is awesome, so I wish him the best, let me get that out. The trade, he had interest from multiple teams and so you always have productive, mature dialogue with the player. And so, I think it’s going to work out best for him and I think we did the best for us in terms of getting some capital back. You just asked about TeSlaa? Yeah, I mean, obviously it may open up some more ops for him, but I think you’ve got to still keep in perspective TeSlaa’s a rookie, young player. He’s had a good training camp, a good preseason, but we’ll just see how it goes. But yeah, obviously from an opportunity standpoint, it opens up a little bit more for him.”
On how he reached the decision to waive former Lions EDGE Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement: (Holmes) “Yeah, so it’s a good question. So yeah, there’s multiple avenues that we could have went with that one. What we wanted to do is what is going to be the best path for him to get him back to the practice field when he’s healthy, and the injury settlement was the way to go. Especially him specifically with where he was at in his football career. The only thing that’s like – so after you do the injury settlement in terms of the length of the settlement with the weeks you have to tack on, additional three weeks you have to wait until we can bring him back. There’s a good chance that he might get healthy before then, within those weeks. But, bottom line, he’s going to be a Detroit Lion, he’s going to be back on the football field playing this year.”
On why he prefers the flexibility of having open roster spots: (Holmes) “Right, so what you’re saying is if guys that we did not deem made the team, go ahead and still give them a spot on the team? Is that what you’re saying?”
On why he did not start with a 53-man roster and then make cuts: (Holmes) “We had 50 make the team. We had 50 make the team. That’s it. I don’t know what else you want me to say. I think I explained it. Do you want three first guys out that was close? Go ahead and give it to him? He didn’t really – but go ahead and give it to him because we’re only at 50. That’s what you’re saying, right? I’m not trying to be confrontational, but I feel like you’re saying, ‘Why not do the best 53?’ Well, if you only have 50 that we deemed as the standards of making it, then you’ve got to look elsewhere. So that’s the approach that we did.”
On why the front office decided to look elsewhere for the final three players on the roster rather than at guys they already had: (Holmes) “Right, but there is a strategic approach behind that as well, and I think that’s what you’re getting at. That’s on top of the fact that there’s only 50 guys that made it from our standards. But yeah, we just had 50 guys, and we looked externally elsewhere. Me and (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) looked at the roster and said, ‘Look, man. We might want to add here, might want to add there.’ But that player may not be here right now. That’s just where we’re at.”
On if he agrees with Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell’s statement that this is the strongest roster the team has had top-to-bottom since they have been with the team: (Holmes) “I do. Look, I appreciate Dan saying that. When the head coach says that, it’s a good feeling to have. I feel that way, I agree. Look, we would’ve been even further, actually, if we didn’t have some of the injuries that we unfortunately had with the (Lions CB Ennis) Rakestraw’s and the (Lions DL) Levi (Onwuzurike)’s and stuff like that. But yeah, I mean I feel very confident, especially with how it’s ended as of – since yesterday, actually. So yeah, it’s deep. Again, always say, we’re always searching. It’s never take the foot off the gas, it’s not a breath of fresh air, sigh of relief. I mean, we might do more stuff today. It’s an everyday task in terms of roster building. But we feel really good about where we’re at going into what we have.”
On if he still sees Lions OL Tate Ratledge as the team’s long-term option at center: (Holmes) “Yeah, we do. Again, I say that with I don’t know what the future’s going to bring. But yeah, I just think, we felt good about trying him here. And look, I think he could’ve handled it if we just could’ve left him there. But when you start looking at the whole combination of him and (Lions OL) Graham (Glasgow) and everything, I think that that was the best thing for not only the players being put in the best positions, but also for the team. Because we didn’t have any kind of questions, we knew what he was at right guard. Like, we already know that, so we were very confident about that. But we felt confident about the center stuff, and he’s shown that he’s going to be able to do it. So, it’s an argument that the ceiling is even higher there at that position at center. So, we’ll see what the future holds, but we feel confident going into it.”
On what caught their eye about Lions DL Tyler Lacy and Lions EDGE Tyrus Wheat: (Agnew) “What we like about both of them, they’re both good depth players. Lacy, man, he’s a physical run player. He’s going to push the pocket with power, but he’ll bring an element that we need right now. And then Tyrus, he’s got some edge-rush ability, he’ll be a good depth at the defensive end position and help out in pass rush and run play. But both of those guys are really good guys, man, they fit the culture here, they fit what we do. They play the game the way we play the game, so I’m excited about both of them and we’re fortunate to get them.”
On what he has seen from Lions DL Tyleik Williams in the pass rush game: (Agnew) “I think his pass rush ability is underrated, in my opinion. He can push the pocket with power, but I think the guy also has some quickness to him too, also. And he’s learning, man, you’re going against NFL offensive lineman rather than college offensive lineman, but I think he has a chance to be a good pass rusher.”
On how he has seen Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes and Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell’s relationship grow over the last four years: (Agnew) “I always tell people that we’re blessed here in Detroit because we have a head coach and a general manager that are always on the same page. It’s like parents, right? Mom and Dad. If Mom and Dad aren’t on the same page, the kids are going to try to wiggle their way, right? I know me, I grew up, my parents were divorced. When I wanted to go hang out, I went over to my mom’s house because she was a little more lenient. My dad was very strict, so I didn’t want to be at his house if I wanted to stay out late. So, with our head coach and general manager, there’s nowhere for our players to go and try to get – because what Brad says, Dan says. What Dan says, Brad says. Not only the players, but also personnel, also coaches, there is no way to infiltrate and try to get by and get something done that you want to get done. So, I think it’s just gotten stronger and stronger and stronger. They’re both really good leaders, both are alpha males. And they both handle their business if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do, so we’re blessed here. I think that’s why we’ve been having success, because our GM and our head coach are on the same page, always.”
On his expectations going into this year for the offensive line: (Holmes) “Yeah, look, we’re confident in them hitting the ground running. Not only just with the players and the coaching that they are receiving, but there’s some youth along there and there’s going to be some growth moments. But those guys are wired right, so they’re going to learn and are going to grow when those moments come. So, whenever that adversity hits – and that’s what I think is great about this place is that’s what we talk about the most is getting them prepared for those moments. So, it’s going to come, and I think it should come just because that’s how they’re going to get better.”
On how they have been prepared for organizational turnover over the years: (Holmes) “So, that’s something that we actually do look at quite a bit and we try to prepare and have succession plans in place for. It’s not always widely advertised, but internally, that is something that you have to look at because you have to be prepared, especially when you start having success. And I think everybody says that, but sometimes it might be somebody that you’re not expecting that gets picked or poached. But yeah, that’s something that we constantly look at every year, actually. So, you don’t have to wait until the collision happens. You want to get in front of it and make sure you have plans in place. Whether that internally or if it’s an external candidate. But I think it’s very important, because if you start racing and scrambling and trying to just kind of fix it afterwards, you may feel great about it at the time, but you know that you kind of rushed some things, took some shortcuts, and so you might feel it on the backend.”
On Lions LB Alex Anzalone’s contract conflict this summer and potentially not being able to pay everybody in the years to come: (Holmes) “Yeah, I mean I think that’s part of it is that we do have a lot of players that we’re playing and we’re trying to keep around. But also, I understand from Alex’s standpoint, too. I’ve always said with Alex, he’s always been a good player. He just happened to go through some things early in his career that he peaked a little bit later. So, when you peak a little bit later, then now – but you have all of these other things going on, and it’s hard to make the forecast sometimes. But I understand where he was coming from, we had productive communication with that and I’m glad that we came to a resolution for the immediate. But we don’t know what the future’s going to hold long-term. It’s very well that we could be in a situation where it’s like, ‘Man, Alex, we need him for next year.’ You just don’t know, but glad that he’s with us for the immediate right now. Glad we’re able to reach something to get him in a better place, and I expect him to play good football for us.”
On why he is confident that the team he put together has given them the best chance to win the Super Bowl: (Holmes) “I just think the message and the continuity has never changed, and I think all the players and the whole organization understands what the mission is, like you said, and what the message is. It’s that, continue to get better, it’s onward, you’ve got to keep putting the work in. And I do think in terms of a team standpoint, I think we’re at a point with the roster that we can compete. I like our depth, I think we have really good skill players. I think our quarterback is playing at a really, really high level. I know we have a new offensive coordinator, but the defensive coordinator’s not a new face. And as long as (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell)’s here, I’ve got total faith in the direction of the team. I think with all those components – at the end of the day, we have really good ownership. It all comes down – it starts at the very top. And I know everybody says that all the time, but it literally does. We’re just led in the right direction from the very top with the support that we have, and it’s a pure trickle-down effect. So, I feel great with where we’re going.”
(Agnew) “I usually don’t talk about this, but fortunately, I was on a team that won a Super Bowl. At every level, we had difference makers. And I believe this team is that. At every level we have difference makers on the field, and we just have to go out and do it. Nothing is guaranteed, but when you look at certain teams that win Super Bowls, with those guys that are difference makers, the (Lions EDGE Aidan) Hutchinson’s of the world, the (Lions WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown’s of the world, those guys are the difference makers. They show up in those times when you’re trying to win a Super Bowl. I’ve played with a lot of gold jacket guys, so that’s a little different. But I believe some of our guys are headed that way, too.”
On how important it is to get a contract extension done with Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: (Holmes) “Nothing’s changed from our end in terms of the importance of getting something done. We have had dialogue that has started, so we’ll just kind of see where it goes. In terms of the level of importance, that has not changed. It is very important.”
