Brad Holmes has moved up in the second round of two of the past three NFL drafts to get a player he coveted. This year, the Detroit Lions general manager could be looking to move down.
Holmes indicated after the first round Thursday, April 23, that he might consider moving off the 50th overall pick, in Friday's second round, to acquire extra choices later in the draft.
The Lions enter Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft without a third-round pick. Last year, they traded their original third-round choice, plus a third-round compensatory pick, to move up and take wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in Round 3.
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"We’ll go back and look at it and get a fresh stack and just kind of see do we have enough players where we feel comfortable staying at 50, or does it look like it’s not enough and do we need to move back just to reach our cluster?" Holmes said. "We’ve already kind of gone through that process already before the draft started, but obviously you never know till you see who’s left."
The Lions moved up three spots in the second round of last year's draft, from No. 60 to No. 57, to take Georgia's Tate Ratledge, who started at right guard last season.
In 2023, the Lions took tight end Sam LaPorta with the second pick of the second round, then traded up three spots to No. 45 overall to take safety Brian Branch later in the round.
Holmes has made 16 draft-day trades in his first five drafts as Lions GM, including 12 moves up in the draft.
DRAFT DAZE: Every draft day trade Brad Holmes has made as Detroit Lions GM
Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Feb. 28, 2026.Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.Former Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller with family during the reveal of new team captain markers along Tiger Walk before the annnual Clemson Orange and White spring game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 22: Blake Miller #78 of the Clemson Tigers looks on at the fans before the game against the Furman Paladins at Memorial Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Katie DeVaney/Getty Images)Oct 19, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Hicks-Imagn ImagesOct 12, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesOct 19, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) follows offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) block down field against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Hicks-Imagn ImagesDec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images1 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.1 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.2 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Feb. 28, 2026.3 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.4 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.5 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.6 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerClemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (OL35) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026.7 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerFormer Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller with family during the reveal of new team captain markers along Tiger Walk before the annnual Clemson Orange and White spring game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.8 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerCLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 22: Blake Miller #78 of the Clemson Tigers looks on at the fans before the game against the Furman Paladins at Memorial Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Katie DeVaney/Getty Images)9 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerOct 19, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Hicks-Imagn Images10 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerOct 12, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images11 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerOct 19, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) follows offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) block down field against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Hicks-Imagn Images12 / 12Meet Detroit Lions' first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Blake MillerDec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesIn addition to their Round 2 pick, the Lions enter Friday with seven selections in Rounds 4-7: Two in Rounds 4, 5 and 6 and one in Round 7. After taking right tackle Blake Miller in Round 1, their most pressing needs are at defensive end, linebacker, defensive back and tight end.
"We’ll definitely go back and see what’s left and then we’ll just kind of see," Holmes said. "If we feel good about the cluster that’s there or that might be there, then we’re just going to pick the best player."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes open to moving down in NFL Draft Round 2