Brad Holmes Turned Down Eagles’ Trade Offer in First Round of 2025 NFL Draft

As the Philadelphia Eagles looked to move up in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they reached out to Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes. In a behind-the-scenes video released by the Eagles, their GM Howie Roseman was shown calling around to explore trade opportunities from their No. 31 pick.

One of those calls went to Holmes, with Roseman asking if Detroit would be open to trading back. Holmes declined the offer.

After the call, Roseman turned to his team and said, “That’s fair, I appreciate the honesty. Detroit just told me no.”

With Detroit unwilling to budge, the Eagles instead worked out a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, sending a fifth-round pick to move up one slot. They ultimately selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at No. 31.

What It Reveals About Detroit’s Draft Approach

Though Holmes didn’t publicly detail the conversation, the decision speaks volumes. It’s clear the Lions were locked in on Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and didn’t want to risk losing him.

Even though there were rumors of potential offers to trade down, Holmes stayed true to his draft board and picked at No. 2. This moment highlights the discipline and clarity Holmes brings to Detroit’s draft strategy—while other teams were adjusting on the fly, he remained focused on securing a player expected to make an immediate impact.