Brad Holmes gives last word on Lions' final roster spot for 2025 season

It sure sounds like general manager Brad Holmes has a plan for the last roster spot remaining for the Detroit Lions, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with bringing Za'Darius Smith back into the fold.

Holmes told reporters after finalizing the Lions' 53-man roster and their practice squad that the team's remaining roster spot is open to essentially anyone they might need down the line. This is especially necessary after the Lions saw just how important it was to have a flexible roster in 2024, when multiple injuries brought them down during what should've been a long postseason run.

"Anything's a possibility. I don't know what's going to happen. But, the one open roster spot, we just have one open roster spot. It's not for a specific player. It's for the player that makes the most sense for us. Whoever that player may be. We went into last year with 52, and, just gives you some flexibility," said Holmes.

He also added that he hasn't been in recent contact with Smith, blowing up a potential for him to be the exact player that the Lions were saving that final spot for this season.

Holmes says final roster spot is not for anyone specific

Last season, so many injuries dragged the Lions down that their formerly formidable defense and secondary had become totally susceptible to an elite passing attack like that of the Washington Commanders. They scored 45 total points on Detroit after the Lions had managed to hold opponents to 20.1 points per game in the regular season.

It was a total breakdown, and it was due to Detroit's inability to plug all the leaks occurring on defense. With an open roster spot and with the team opting to potentially leave it open until it's absolutely necessary to grab someone as a backup to an injured player, they can try to prevent a similar outcome during the season.

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At the pass rush, too, the Lions seem content with running out some of their tackles as pass rushers instead of swinging for Smith right now. Tyleik Williams, a rookie, earned some specific praise for his "underrated" pass rushing ability from assistant general manager Ray Agnew during his press conference on Thursday alongside Holmes.

Running out Williams, Mekhi Wingo, DJ Reader, and Roy Lopez as secondary pass rush options alongside Marcus Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson isn't a bad plan at all. But, it wouldn't hurt for Detroit to consider bringing on a true backup EDGE like Smith if they still have that open spot a few weeks into the season.