Brad Holmes checking due diligence boxes for veteran racers

The quest to fill the Lions’ roster holes at EDGE, after losing starters Marcus Davenport and now Aidan Hutchinson to season-ending injuries, has taken over the discussion in Detroit.

Lions GM Brad Holmes already started the process by signing young EDGE Isaiah Thomas off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. Holmes isn’t done looking, though.

Multiple reports, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, indicate that Holmes and the Lions have held talks with the New York Jets about veteran Haason Reddick. The former Eagles, Panthers and Cardinals sack artist is holding on after being traded to New York from Philadelphia in April. The Jets have now given Reddick, who has surpassed 10 catches in each of the past four seasons while playing for three different teams, permission to try to find a trade partner.

As Fowler noted in his report, it’s Holmes doing “due diligence” on potential solutions. There are also unsubstantiated reports that the Lions have spoken with the Cleveland Browns about veteran Za’Darius Smith. The 32-year-old also fits the profile of a “role player” that head coach Dan Campbell indicated the Lions were looking for, though he has a salary cap obligation of nearly $10 million in 2025

Holmes’ job is to explore every opportunity. It seems he is doing just that, according to reports. However, don’t confuse “talk about” with “exchange for”; There are too many variables and factors on both sides of these equations to read any certainty that Holmes is doing anything more than his mandatory due diligence at this point.