ESPN Grades Detroit Lions Offseason

Richard KnightThu, Jul 2, 2026·2 min read

The Detroit Lions experienced plenty of roster turnover this offseason, but one ESPN analyst believes Brad Holmes and the front office still deserve high marks for the work they accomplished.

In his annual offseason report card, ESPN’s Seth Walder gave the Lions a B grade, tying Detroit for the ninth-highest offseason grade in the NFL.

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Rather than simply evaluating talent gained versus talent lost, Walder’s grades focused on the quality of each team’s overall decision-making throughout the offseason.

ESPN Praises Lions’ David Montgomery Trade

One of Walder’s favorite moves was Detroit’s decision to trade veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.

According to Walder, acquiring a fourth-round pick, a seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs for a 29-year-old backup running back represented excellent value.

While Walder acknowledged that free agent addition Isiah Pacheco may not fully replace Montgomery’s production, he believed the draft compensation made the trade worthwhile.

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Jack Campbell Extension Raises Eyebrows

Interestingly, Walder’s least favorite move wasn’t a free-agent signing or draft selection.

Instead, he pointed to Detroit’s four-year, $81 million contract extension for All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell.

Even then, Walder stopped short of criticizing the deal harshly, noting that while the extension was a bit more expensive than he would have preferred, it wasn’t significantly out of line with Campbell’s value.

Detroit Still Earns High Marks

The Lions entered the offseason with several notable departures, including Alex Anzalone, Amik Robertson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and David Montgomery.

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At the same time, Holmes added players such as Cade Mays, Chuck Clark, Roger McCreary, Christian Izien, and DJ Wonnum while counting on the continued development of young talent like Tyleik Williams and Isaac TeSlaa.

The result, according to ESPN, was one of the league’s better offseasons.