2021 Inside the Den Episode 3: Brad Holmes leads his first Detroit Lions draft 

Re-watching in 2024. Man what a foundational draft. Lions Front Office nailed it hiring Brad Holmes.

looking back at this, 5 starters, 2 1st team all pro's in 1 draft, insane

“We still have that receiver from USC on the board.” My god what steal that was.

Pretty wild to watch back now. Brad takes Amon Ra and Barnes back to back in 2021, then in the divisional playoffs in 2024 Amon Ra has the TD to put the Lions up 2 scores, and Barnes has the game sealing INT.

Watching this after the 2022-23 season. This was the beginning of something great

Man watching Penei react like that still brings a tear to my eye 3 years later

Brad: "You ready to be a Lion!!" :D Alim: "chyeah fasho" that shit had me dead as hell bruh lmaooo

*Lions select Sewell* Dan Campbell-“Alright I’m going home”😂😂

getting amon ra and derrick barns back to back such a steal...... this was one of the best drafts in history

Sheila legitimately cares. She didn’t know everything and she made an effort to learn. When was the last time we saw that in The D?

Penei is going to be remembered as the first player that changed the Detroit lions franchise forever moving forward. I can see now why Brad was so fired up to get him

23:05 “Tell him two future 1s” lol

I love that Sheila was asking about getting a receiver, that’s exactly what we need from our owner, she’s aware of our team needs

So that big celebration we all seen on draft day wasn't that we picked Sewell, but that Miami didn't and took Waddle. This series is super cool

Honestly it seemed like a really comfortable, family like atmosphere I loved at 19:07 Shiela was asking questions and Holmes was explaining the need of McNeil and who they still had for receivers. They got everyone who they wanted tbh

Also thank you media team, y’all killed this 🤝👍

"You won't regret it." -Peneii freaking Sewell Only 2 years in, and already a Detroit Lions legend in my book.

I don’t see Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia ever having a draft with this much communication and excitement. These guys wanted Sewell, did all their homework, and walked away with one of the top prospects of this draft. So far this regime has me frickin pumped. They’re making all the right moves for this rebuild. Edit: I made this comment right after the Sewell pick. But watching this whole draft play out was nothing short of spectacular. These guys want to bring a winner to our city boys and girls

This is the best piece of lions media I've ever seen I don't know what the last regime didn't allow the media team to record as much or they cut out a lot of stuff but this was a very transparent and fun to watch

18:20 Dorsey is great. Glad he's there to help Guide Brad.

Once we win the super bowl first thing I will do is return to this video. One pride! Forever a Detroit 🦁

Hiring John Dorsey was brilliant...just sitting there in the shadows, keeping things in perspective, on track, and keeping Holmes from trading up for every pick 🤣👍

Shock the world

This energy is much different, you can just feel it.

Dan the Man, Sherlock, and SFH are finally turning things around

This is going to be the greatest video of all time

A must watch for Lions Fans

USC KID! THE SUN GOD!! IN HOLMES WE BELIEVE!

YES!!!!! Go LIONS! GO Brad Holmes and Sheila Ford Hamp!!! #OnePride

That phone call to Sewell. Me: I'm not crying, I'm not crying.

I love Dorsey completely relaxed the whole time while everyone else is going crazy lol

Lions creating their own Hard Knocks!

Looking back 1 year later and every single player in this draft and the 22 draft has contributed in a positive way. #GRIT

I actually loved that call from Magic to ARSB.

Feels so good now that Quinntricia is out of here. Let’s go Lions

The fact that the GM and the coach's are that excited showed me they legit care.

After watching this, I am fully IN on this process. BUILD THE TRENCHES. Every house needs a great foundation, and these dudes are gonna help us build a mansion!

As a Packers fan, I have to say that it’s incredible to see the excitement in this new regime here in Detroit. Your city deserves Brad and Dan, and I wish them all the best inside the division, and beyond!

Who else here watching this after Detroit Lions just won the NFC North! Kings 👑🦁

I've been never been more excited to watch an OL in my life. Penei got me so hype smiling cheek to cheek saying "I'm a Lion!" This man is gonna put in work for the team. He can and I believe will be an important piece for this team's success!

Hell, I've gotten more joy out of this vid than anything in recent memory. Fans love this stuff. It's basic and honest and that's why I like it. If they work hard and stay humble, who knows? Who knows? All I know is right this moment, I'm excited at their excitement.

As a Cleveland Browns fan, I'm excited for the Lions and their fans. Rooting for you all in the NFC.

The media team you guys have is phenomenal. I mean hats off to you guys this is a phenomenal piece

27:36 Hi everyone, Lions fan from the future. This particular pick is going to down in history.

3:40 "He checked out good 300 pounds running around like a tight end". "Sewell in motion to the right side - catches runs for the first down and stays in bounds to seal the win". 300 pound tight end indeed.

Wow, thats what the war room should look and feel like. So much better than the previous administration.

33:15 Somebody owes us a Backflip, lol

17:30 Levi's neighbor having a lions jersey is too good.

Talking about knocking it out of the park since Brad became GM.

Please film this again for the 2022 draft!

The thumbs down must of been Bears fans

Go ahead and dump the kool-aid on me

There are a few things I took away from this video. When Sewell went outside to celebrate with his family, I noticed that he wanted everyone to celebrate with him. He was literally asking for them to join him. That is not an individual, that's a teammate. That's a leader. Second, Brad Holmes is a very serious individual. He looks like a man on a mission. Even though he got excited, he quickly zeroed back in and knew he wasn't done. He wasn't just happy with Sewell dropping to him. The last thing is Sheila Ford. As a new Lion fan, I hear a lot of people complaining about ownership and not being able to win with the Ford family. If this turns out like we all want, Sheila will need to get a lot of credit for getting the right people.

Now welcome to pick in the end of every round. Where it gets real hard. Congrats Lions!

Love what Sheila has done since she has taken over. Holmes helped execute the best Lions draft ever. MCDC has put together a great staff and is creating an atmosphere which will produce champions. The Lions are going to shock people this year.

This draft and next years draft will set the roster with cornerstone players. It will pay dividends when your best players are of vital positions all over the trenches. Those teams are tough to play let alone beat! I love this collective effort their employing its a positivity generator, its bound to uplift instead of tear down.

This was phenomenally done👏

So excited for the lions future. Holmes and everyone killed this draft. Love the direction this team is going.

It's interesting to watch Dorsey sit in the back the whole time, calm and cool and really seems like he is a calming force in that draft room and just love the energy all the way around. The more I watch, the more I drink the kool-aid that we are doing something big, come on baby!!! Go Lions!!!!

i am gonna follow lions this season bcoz of dan cambell and goff.... cambell as a head coach looks like a win..hope he delivers a winning culture.

Anyone else here excited for these videos for the 2022 draft lol

This Organization feels sooooooo different from what I've known the past 30 years! I'm excited to see what they do.

i ain’t even a lions fan but that big scream form the gm was sick i love these type of behind the scenes stuff for the draft

So y'all were like the rest of us hoping and praying this man fell into our lap

Can't wait to see the "Offensnive Line" play together for the first time!!

I really like how we’re getting so much insight into the behind the scenes stuff with this new regime. Brad, Dan, and company just seem like really genuine people and it really does seem like a family atmosphere. Loving this content

1) more joy in that first WHOOOO from brad holmes than there was in 3 whole years under bob quinn and matty p. 2) gotta love the candor and honesty from the whole staff (holmes: "actually i haven't been here before", Campbell: "praise john dorsey for keeping us grounded when we got too emotional or wanted to give up a lot to trade up") 3) Love the interest and attention from SFH, without demanding that the front office make Draft moves on her whims 4) Collaboration! Throughout the combine/scouting process, in the war room, on the phone lines. 5) Positive reinforcement from advisors like Spielman and Dorsey ("Look at that, the scenario you discussed is exactly what's unfolding right now") 6) This guy Brad Holmes. He turned a difficult stafford situation into a good, hungry QB + future 1st round pick, clearly did his homework (knew Miami would pick a 'Bama receiver and knew that he might have competition from the Vikings for a top OT). Set clear standards for the players they drafted (intangibles, strong positional skills, and grit/versatility), got a multitude of input from all personnel instead of pulling the authority card and going solo a la Matty P and Howie Roseman, and held his nerve under pressure and didn't reach where unnecessary. It didn't feel like there were any 'bad' picks in this class. No Teez Tabor's or Jahlani Tavai's in this class. Between the last 2 draft classes, the lions snagged the highest ranked CB and RB in 2020 (okudah and swift), the top OT and 2 of the top 3 DTs in 2021 (Sewell, Owunzurike and McNiell), brought in some good pieces via FA/trades (Brockers, Goff, Jamal Williams), and retained key players (ragnow/okwara). There's clearly a strong core forming in this team. Is this team a super bowl contender today? no. but is this rebuild moving at good pace in the right direction? you're damn right!

Can I just say….. this Is such a breath of fresh air! GREAT WORK SHELIA , BRAD, and DAN!

Wow! Just watching this for the first time. It’s like they new the future.

Bless you Brad Holmes

Just watched this. This has got to be one of the best drafts of all time! Completely changed the culture, and multiple picks after day one that are still starting. This was the foundation of the new Lions

I would pay good money to see BQ when he picked Tabor Round 2....

I think personally for me this was the BEST Den Episode period..it showed true genuineness and ENERGY and emotion that I have NEVER seen from this organization or past regime. I luvd the behind the scenes look into all of the draft picks family-friendly environment and family emotion it made me smile and I got choked up for a minute I will admit it. The only thing that bothered me for some strange reason was watching Rod Woods energy he seemed unfazed, uninterested just standing around with his arms folded acting like he's ready to go. He was not into it like Sheila, atleast she genuinely tried to be excited, but Rod energy just irked me thru the whole video, is it just me?😵. Otherwise great content.👋🐯

I can't wait for September 12!!! I get to see this awesome program first hand!

8:29 The reaction from Penei, I love this dude so much. Can't wait to watch him!

Can't wait for this to drop

Stay stay stay put 😂 this episode is nothing less than epic the emotions I felt watching this I'm charged up for this season like Barry and Herman are suiting up something feels different feels real I can't thank Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia enough for fumbling and not taking care of business I'm so glad you allowed us to be embarrassed on Thanksgiving day because once Shelia buried her face in her hands it has been go time she started going to work to right the wrongs of her predecessors. Brad and Dan are doing all the right things I just hope it shows up on Sundays and we build a winning culture for years to come and give the Vikings, Packers, and Bears sleepless nights when they think of the Detroit Lions and the rest of the teams as well. One Pride time to demand the respect the media and league will not give us.

Not a Lions fan, but I’ve truly enjoyed watching this series. I’ll definitely root for the Lions when they aren’t playing my TEAM. Even then, wouldn’t be mad if they won. Very cool to see the building of a culture.

"The USC kid' chills

Great video!! The communication was unreal.

Im not even a fan of the Lions but this was way better then almost all the other 'behind the scenes draft day' the energy there seems incredible

Have we ever seen the prospect interview process or footage of the scouts input on potential picks? Don't think so. I love this new staff man.

Eagles fan here Detroit I hope you guys win a title it's been long overdue

Hey Detroit Lions, please keep these Inside the Den videos coming. The ‘21 and ‘22 Draft videos are among the best behind-the-scenes pro sports videos I’ve ever seen. Great work!! Go Lions!

The conviction they have then the guy turns out to be a stud, future HOF'er IMO, gives you so much comfort. They had the same conviction with Hutchinson whos also an elite talent. Can't wait till 2023 draft to see how it unfolds

I'm super excited for this new regime. Really good vibes.

After watching this now in retrospect after the season, the Lions nailed this draft. Each and every pick contributed- most namely Sewell, St.Brown and McNeil. Iffy and Levi came on late in the season. If you add in the un-drafted free agents with Jerry Jacobs and K.J Turner at corner, the Lions have some nice pieces to build around!

This is the type of stuff that’s great to see in the dog days of summer, when you’re starting to get real hungry for some football. Thanks to the Lions and their media department, great vid!

Best Detroit Lions video I have ever seen!

Sheila and the crew have only been granted two years’ grace from the majority of the fan base because of the way they operate and how much they truly give a damn....Go Lions!!! A lot to like about Sheila’s Lions, thus far...

People don’t understand how happy i am for IFFy, Tracy, and Jeff when i tell u Aubrey is going to turn them boys up😭😭

Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell is like, the most perfect duo for GM and HC

Love the behind the scene look in!

Sheila made some good decisions last season. This organisation made a massive U-turn and we heading the right way! Yessirrrrr

Making this comment a year later; You hear them say, 'foundation'. TRUTH. Dynasty time. Detroit deserves it.

Watching this after the 2024 Draft, a few thing stand out to me. 1. MCDC & Holmes are so much more transparent about what they want and about the whole draft process (but are also smart enough to hide their cards where it can be hard to predict who they will select). 2. They are actually excited about who they are getting. YOU SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE BUILDING!! So many other teams try to be “professional,” but these guys are doing their own thing. 3. They will gladly explain something to Sheila while still being in control of the situation (the moment when Sheila asks about them not taking a WR earlier in the draft when they needed to get Alim when they got him; that moment comes to mind). 18:50 if you want the timestamp. So glad we have built something SO MUCH BETTER!!

When Brad gets Excited u better watch out shaking his hand😆

Been a Lions fan for 54 years best video I've ever seen great job Sheila Dan Brad. Excited about up coming seasons.go lions

I’m not a Lions fan, but I can’t help but admire what they’re building. Holmes and Campbell’s energy is infectious, and Sheila Ford seems like the best representative of ownership I remember them having. And that’s not even mentioning the talent they’re accumulating. I think the arrow is pointed up for sure

Looking back on this now is awesome. Go lions!