Brad Holmes thought enough of Tate Ratledge that he moved up three spots to take the Georgia offensive guard in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2023, Holmes made a similar move up to get safety Brian Branch.
In both instances, Holmes gave up a Day 3 pick to complete the deal, and with seven choices on Saturday, April 25, this year, the Detroit Lions general manager has the capital to creep up in the second round for a prospect he likes again.
Holmes indicated Thursday he might be open to trading down in the second round on Friday night. The Lions enteer Day 2 without a third-round pick, and a trade down could net them an extra top-100 choice.
But if he wants to go up, the GM who's been known to wake up determined to get his guy should have options.
Using the popular trade value chart on DraftTek.com, here's an idea of how far the Lions could move up or down from their current No. 50 overall choice when the second round opens Friday (7 p.m. ABC, ESPN, NFL Network).
If there's a prospect they love, the Lions could realistically go up as high as pick No. 39 with the Cleveland Browns or No. 40 with the Kansas City Chiefs by packaging their second-round choice and both fourth-round picks in a trade.
The Lions' 50th pick is valued at 400 points, and their two fourth-rounders – Nos. 118 and No. 128 overall – carry values of 58 and 44 points, respectively.
Dropping 10 spots is significant for a team with one of the first eight picks on Day 2, but the Chiefs have just four picks in the final three rounds and like the Lions don't have a third-round choice. The Browns, who have nine picks remaining on Day 2 and 3, seem less likely to do such a deal.
Cleveland's pick at No. 39 is valued at 510 points, while the Chiefs' pick at No. 40 is valued at 500 points. In both cases, a three-for-one pick swap – combined, the Lions' second- and fourth-round choices have a value of 502 points – is about the book value of a trade.
If the Lions wanted to deal one of their two fourth-round picks, they should be able to make a smaller move up in the second round.
Packaging No. 50 (400 points) and No. 118 (58 points) in the middle of the fourth round would get the Lions in the 44-45 range. The New York Jets' pick at 44 is worth 460 points, while the Baltimore Ravens' pick one slot later is valued at 450 points.
If the Lions need to throw in a sweetener to get either deal done, their final sixth-round pick at No. 213 overall is worth 5.8 points and their lone pick early in Round 7, at No. 222, is worth two points.
The Ravens are loaded with Day 2 and 3 picks and might not see the value in collecting extra choices, while the Jets have no picks in Rounds 3, 5 or 6 and two each in Rounds 4 and 7..
If the Lions were to strike out with the Ravens or Jets, they might be able to package their second fourth-round pick (44 points) with No. 50 to move up four spots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pick at No. 46 (440 points).
The Bucs have one pick remaining in every round and could swap sixth-round picks with the Lions – Tampa's pick at No. 195 is worth 13 points while the Lions' second sixth-rounder at No. 205 is nine points – to make up the difference.
Every team uses their own version of a trade chart to value draft picks, so these numbers won't work for everyone. But if the Lions want to go up a spot or two, it shouldn't cost much.
The Minnesota Vikings pick at No. 49 (410 points) and the Atlanta Falcons at No. 48 (420 points), and the Falcons in particular might be interested in collecting an extra choice given their lack of draft capital. Atlanta didn't pick in the first round, doesn't pick in the fifth either and has just five choices overall.
DISTANT REPLAY: Every draft day trade Brad Holmes has made as Detroit Lions GM
To cover the 20-point difference it would cost to go up two spots to No. 48, the Lions could probably send one of their two fifth-round choices to the Falcons, No. 157 (28.6 points) or 181 (18.6 points).