At this point, some Lions fans feel like Brad Holmes is trolling them

That's weird, but the ones that are really interesting are the responses after the Lions released practice squad edge rusher Isaac Ukwu, who has played 70 regular-season snaps in his career. You would have thought the team cut Aidan Hutchinson.

That last one is the one I really want to focus on. This is kind of a growing conspiracy theory. It's the idea that the Lions GM Brad Holmes knows that Lions fans want an edge rusher so badly, and they've seen him go against it so hard in press conferences, and they saw him dog the media after the 2023 season. People think that Holmes is just doing this so that if it winds up being right, he can come out and dunk on everyone who said the Lions would fail without a good edge rusher opposite Hutchinson. Like, Holmes' ego is so big that he's willing to risk a Super Bowl to prove people wrong.

Look, I'll be the first person to tell you that if this works out, Holmes is going to do some between-the-legs dunks on everyone, and he'll deserve to do so, but the idea that he's doing this on purpose is just insane.

The reality is so simple. Some Lions fans simply don't realize how good this defense already is, and after seeing Patrick Mahomes get sacked by the Eagles so many times in the Super Bowl, they have themselves convinced that edge rusher is the only thing this team needs and that they were incapable of rushing the passer last year. That's just not true. They did lose their pass best rusher, but not many teams just have a premier guy. That's why the Lions traded for Za'Darius Smith at that time. To try ot help mitigate that. Then the injuries just became too much to overcome.

Now the Lions feel like they're in a good place with their defensive line, and they have a lot of reasons to feel that way. Aidan Hutchinson is back without hyperbole. I'm telling you, he looks better than ever and should win Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. I know everyone is terrified about Marcus Davenport being injured, and I can't tell you that won't happen, but he looks the best he's ever looked.

There are strong rotational guys in Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat, and then you can get edge contributions from Mekhi Wingo, Trevor Nowaske, and Pat O'Connor. Plus the Lions like to blitz with Alex Azalone, and Avonte Maddox is a strong safety blitzer. There are tons of ways for this team to get to the quarterback. On top of that, Josh Paschal should be back soon, and Holmes says Ahmed Hassanein will be back for the Lions this year, too.

In the middle, it's deeper than ever with Tyleik Williams, DJ Reader looking like his old self, Roy Lopez, Wingo, O'Connor, and Tyler Lacy. Plus, we know that Holmes recently said he expects Alim McNeill to be back soon.

The Lions are good guys. I don't know how many other ways to tell you. I can tell you again that they were ranked second in defensive DVOA in Week 12 last year, and now they have fully healthy guys and upgrades everywhere, but I'm sure you still won't believe me. The Lions aren't trolling you. Brad Holmes is not trolling you. This team wants to win a Super Bowl, and nobody's ego, or perceived ego, is bigger than that. So please chill.