Brad Holmes and the Lions plan to be aggressive in free agency this year, with more money to spend and more ground to gain after a 3-13-1 season.
"This is going to be the player acquisition phase" of the rebuild, Holmes said at the outset of the offseason.
The Lions won't spend wildly. That's not in line with their plan to build through the draft. But they'll spend more than they did last year when they handed out a bunch of short-term deals to stopgap players. This year, they want to add players to their core.
And how will they pitch those players on joining the Lions? Holmes was asked as much Tuesday during an interview with Good Morning Football and pointed almost directly to Dan Campbell.
"Dan and I had a plan in place from the get-go and we took some lumps early on, but you started to see that plan really become clear at the end of the season," said Holmes. "What we can definitely offer is an outstanding culture. We have a culture of collaboration, communication, we’re all about grit. We have a multi-year plan in place. And we just have an outstanding head coach. Dan is special. We got great leadership from the top and I tell everybody, 'Look, if you don’t want to be a part of this, good luck, because it’s going to be a fun ride when we get this thing going."
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The Lions did show signs of life toward the end of last season, winning three of their final six games after an 0-10-1 start, including victories over the Cardinals and Packers. And throughout the season, the players raved about Campbell and his staff. Their words shined through their actions when they competed like hell on Sundays. Veteran DL Michael Brockers said the Lions can 'definitely' contend for the playoffs next season.
"Dan is special," said Holmes. "He’s special as a head coach, he’s special as a human being. He has elite traits. What I’ll say about Dan is, he has amazing insight and he has amazing foresight, and he has these leadership abilities that people just believe in. He’s one of those guys that just makes anybody feel better about themselves."
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Beneath Campbell, the Lions have a staff of former players who can relate to the current ones. Free agent safety Tracy Walker, who revived his career last season under defensive coordinator and former three-time Pro Bowl corner Aaron Glenn, has repeatedly said he wants to re-sign with Detroit because of his chemistry with the coaching staff.
"These coaches, they believe in the players," Walker said at the end of the season. "They understand what it’s like to be a player, first off, so they’re open ears. Sometimes we might not be right as players, but they’re still open to hear it. That’s the biggest thing for me. That was the biggest difference (from the prior staff), honestly. I respect these coaches for that, giving me a voice and hearing me out, regardless if I’m right or wrong."
Here's what else the Lions can offer free agents: opportunity. They're a young team with jobs up for grabs, pretty much everywhere other than offensive line and running back. Some of those jobs will be filled via the draft, where Detroit has a treasure trove of picks, including two first-rounders. So the Lions are a rising team, too.
"Dan I and talked about it a lot last year when we brought (free agents) in: 'If you want an opportunity to play, we’re going to give anybody any opportunity to play. I don’t care where you’re coming from, where you’re drafted, how much money you’re making, undrafted free agents.' And our coaches have a passion to develop. They’re true teachers. It’s a phenomenal staff and it’s just a great place to play, so we’re going to have this build going and it’s going to get better and better," said Holmes.
It's hard to sell free agents on a losing team, particularly a losing team in a small market, particularly a losing team in a small market with a history of failure. The Lions won't be the No. 1 destination for any free agent outside their own walls. But they can sell what's happening inside their walls, where a respected coaching staff is molding a young roster into something potentially special. And lest we forget, money still talks.
"We have a plan and we’ve just been sticking to it," said Holmes. "We’re right in place with where we’re supposed to be and the future’s looking bright right now."
Holmes also said Tuesday that he texted several of his former colleagues with the Rams, like GM Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay, after their Super Bowl triumph and they credited Holmes, the club's former director of college scouting, for helping them get there.
"Sending a bunch of congratulatory texts to all the guys back there saying, 'I’m so happy for you guys,’ and to get the responses saying, 'Hey, look man, you’re a part of this,' they didn’t have to say that, but that was really cool for them to say," said Holmes. "It makes you feel good. It was inspiring, because being a part of that build and that process inspires us to go out and do it ourselves."