Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and the front office are now hard at work evaluating and refining the team’s 2025 NFL Draft board.
Former Lions fullback Jason Cabinda took to social media to praise Holmes for consistently bringing in high-caliber talent that has played a major role in Detroit’s turnaround.
“As we approach the draft, let’s remember just how impressive the run Lions GM Brad Holmes is on,” Cabinda posted. “He’s put together one of the best 2-3 year draft stretches the league has seen and isn’t slowing down! Expect him to make moves for impact players on Draft Day!”
Holmes has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s most respected general managers, largely due to his draft success. His selections include Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Kerby Joseph, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brian Branch over four drafts.
Both Sewell and St. Brown have earned first-team All-Pro honors in back-to-back years, with Joseph joining them as a first-team All-Pro in 2024.
Holmes has also shown commitment to his drafted players, as multiple members of his 2021 draft class have secured second contracts with the team. Sewell, St. Brown, Levi Onwuzurike, Alim McNeill, and Derrick Barnes have all signed extensions and will be in Detroit for 2025.
More contract extensions could be on the way for Hutchinson, Williams, and Joseph, all of whom are now extension-eligible from the 2022 draft class.
In a recent appearance on “Good Morning Football,” the now-retired Cabinda reflected on one of the most memorable moments of his Lions career—his emotional reaction to Dan Campbell’s passionate speech on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
Cabinda explained what was going through his mind at that moment, sharing how deeply Campbell’s words resonated with him.
“Football is such an emotional game. The energy and passion you have to tap into just to compete is intense. We joke that ‘we play a children’s game,’ but this is a battle,” Cabinda said.
“Every Sunday, you go to war. When Coach Campbell talked about outlasting everyone, having the most endurance, and being the last team standing, it got me hyped. I was just channeling that fire I was going to bring on game day.”