Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes has never been one to play checkers when chess is an option. Picture a seasoned poker player at the Bellagio, coolly stacking chips while opponents squirm. Holmes, fresh off back-to-back NFC North titles, isn’t just drafting players—he’s playing mind games. This week, rumors swirled like a Midwestern tornado after Texas receiver Matthew Golden’s “top-30” visit to Detroit. But in Motown, nothing is ever as it seems.
Holmes’s track record reads like a masterclass in misdirection. Remember 2022? He traded up 20 spots for Jameson Williams, leaving analysts scrambling. Now, with Golden’s visit sparking panic about Williams’ future, Lions fans are left wondering: Is this a genuine interest or a crafty feint?
“Why are we giving up on him [Williams]?” WoodwardSports’ Darren McCarty barked this week, echoing the confusion. The answer might lie in Holmes’s love for chaos—and his knack for turning it into gold. Let’s cut through the haze.
Golden, a 5’11” speedster with a 4.29-second 40-yard dash, mirrors Williams’ explosive play style. But bringing him in? That’s textbook Holmes. “This could be a smokescreen,” one WoodwardSports host speculated, noting Holmes’s history of using visits to manipulate draft boards. “Brad Holmes could have information that the guys picking behind them may want this guy. So, what do you do to increase your value and your position? You bring in the guys they want to talk to.” Translation: Holmes is making his moves quietly.
With teams like the Chiefs and Chargers eyeing receivers, Detroit’s sudden “interest” in Golden could bait rivals into trading up, letting Holmes slide back for extra picks, or pounce on a falling star. Brad Holmes doesn’t just draft; he architects. Last year, he snagged Terrion Arnold by leapfrogging five spots. In 2022, he outmaneuvered half the league for Williams. Now, with Golden’s visit, he’s dangling bait. “Nobody knows what this dude’s actually going to do,” admitted the WoodwardSports analyst. And that’s the point.
But there’s a thornier subplot. Jameson Williams’s looming payday. After a breakout 2024 (58 catches, 1,001 yards, 7 TDs), his fifth-year option ($15.49M in 2026) is a lock. But long-term? “There are a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming, but it’s just one that you just don’t know what’s going to happen from a financial standpoint, cause a wide receiver, it’s expensive,” Holmes said bluntly in March. With extensions due for Aidan Hutchinson and Sam LaPorta, committing $30M/year to Williams could cap-strap the Lions.
Brad Holmes’ chess moves: a draft day deception?
And there you have Golden—a cheaper, younger clone. “If the Lions were to take Golden with the 28th pick, they could then trade Williams and save a lot of money,” analyst Mike Payton noted. The math is brutal but logical. Why pay premium prices when a rookie contract offers flexibility? Holmes, ever the strategist, might see Golden as both a weapon and a financial escape hatch. Could Holmes deal with Williams?
The speculation isn’t baseless. In 2022, A.J. Brown netted the Titans a first and third-round pick. Williams, despite his upside, might only fetch a Day 2 selection. However, Brad’s always two steps ahead. Trading Williams now would be risky for a Super Bowl contender, but waiting risks diminishing returns. Meanwhile, Golden isn’t just fast.
He’s refined. At Texas, he averaged 17 yards per catch and scored 9 TDs in 2024. Besides, draft analyst Dane Brugler calls him “the go-to target for any NFL offense.” For Holmes, he’s leverage. Draft Golden, and Detroit gains a cost-controlled playmaker. Or, hype his visit, trick rivals into overpaying, and stockpile picks. Either way, Holmes wins.
Brad Holmes thrives in the gray area between genius and madness, indeed. As the draft approaches, his true target remains veiled. Will he trade Williams? Double down on speed? Or pull a rabbit from his ever-deepening hat? One thing’s certain: In Detroit, the only guarantee is chaos. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity,” said Sun Tzu. Brad Holmes might rewrite that: In the midst of chaos, there are draft picks.
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