Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)
We all know that at some point in this upcoming 2021 NFL Draft Detroit Lions general manager, Brad Holmes, is going to draft a wide receiver. The question is, “What does he look for?”
In this article, we’ll look at players previously drafted by Holmes and assess what makes a Holmes-qualified playmaker (HQP) at receiver plus three candidates that he might target during the last day of the draft.
Holmes has helped to draft 21 receivers since he joined the now Los Angeles Rams back in 2003. We’re going to focus on 16 of them, the most recent, to determine what he looks for in a playmaking wideout. Any receiver from 2008 to 2020 is fair game, here.
Also, we’ll throw in Robert Woods (2013 draft), who was signed as a free agent by Holmes, to help round out the picture; he has had a significant increase in his numbers as a Rams wideout versus being a Buffalo Bills player, much probably due to the quarterback play for the two franchises.
First, it is also helpful to assume that like most draft positions, we look at the wide receiver position as two positions, outside receivers and slot receivers as Rams head coach Sean McVay’s offense employs both, as do most teams.
Second, we need to establish the minimums for each position but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t useful to see the top of the range that Holmes has selected in measurable terms. These numbers may indicate the more ideal traits that Holmes is seeking.