INDIANAPOLIS – The Detroit Lions' contingent of front office, coaching staff, scouting department and medical personnel are in Indianapolis this week for the annual NFL Scouting Combine where they will get an up-close look at 319 prospects up for NFL Draft consideration in April.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes spoke to the media Tuesday to kick off the week. Here are all the key questions from his media session:
When is the preferred timeline for a Taylor Decker retirement decision?
Decker, 32, battled through a shoulder injury all season that had him contemplating retirement at the end of the season. Holmes said Tuesday Decker has earned the right to take his time on a decision, but they'd like it by the beginning of the league year and the start of free agency March 11.
"Within these next couple weeks, we'll make sure we have that clarity," Holmes said.
View photos of Detroit Lions players at the NFL Scouting Combine.
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State offensive lineman Taylor Decker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Temple defensive back Rock Ya-Sin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas State defensive back D.J. Reed runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
LSU defensive back Jalen Mills runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
LSU offensive lineman Miles Frazier runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan offensive lineman Graham Glasgow runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah defensive back Sione Vaki runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end Sam Laporta runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo Erin Hooley)
Mississippi State linebacker Tyrus Wheat runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oklahoma State defensive lineman Tyler Lacy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (28) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh defensive back Avonte Maddox participates in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Memphis defensive back Arthur Maulet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Could restructuring some current contracts be part of Holmes' plan to create cap space this offseason?
The Lions are currently around $9 million over the salary cap, according to overthecap.com, and will need to create some cap space before the start of the new league year.
There are a few ways to get under the cap with one mechanism being restructuring some of the recently signed extensions for quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell, turning their base salary into signing bonuses to lower their 2026 cap numbers.
"We've had discussions on those, for sure," Holmes said. "You're always in kind of a waiting mode and kind of see if (the cap) is going to go up or down and how much room you may have, but we have had some of those discussions."
Does Holmes expect veteran running back David Montgomery to be on the roster in 2026?
Holmes said he's had positive discussions with Montgomery both after the season and more recently with him and his representation.
"We love David," Holmes said. "He's a great player. We'd love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. Those conversations are still fluid and we'll just kind of see how it goes."
Montgomery had career lows in carries (158), yards (716) and snap percentage (37 percent) last season. Holmes said it's been a healthy dialogue with Montgomery heading into the new league year.
Has there been any contract extension talks for linebacker Jack Campbell, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, safety Brian Branch and tight end Sam LaPorta?
Discussions are still being had internally on all four players, but Holmes stressed that he believes all four players are core members of the roster they want to keep around.
"They are part of our foundation," he said. "But it just goes back to the retaining, OK that's paying, and then how much additional resources do you have going forward?"
The good thing is there are a lot of different timelines and levers the team can use to get deals done with all four if they choose. Campbell and Gibbs are entering Year 4 and the team should pick up the fifth-year option for both players. Branch and LaPorta are entering the final year of their rookie deals, so the timeline for them is condensed a little bit, but there are tools like the franchise tag and the transition tag as well as getting an extension done with both players.
"Those are all players you rattled off that we see as key pieces that we want to keep around a long time," Holmes said.
View photos of the offensive line prospects who were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Memphis OL Chris Adams (61)
Florida OT Austin Barber (58)
Northwestern OL Evan Beerntsen (60)
Miami OL Markel Bell (70)
Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis (71)
Boston College OL Jude Bowry (71)
Alabama OL Parker Brailsford (72)
Kentucky OL Jager Burton (62)
Texas OL DJ Campbell (52)
Arkansas OL Fernando Carmona (55)
Boise State OL Kage Casey (77)
Indiana OL Pat Coogan (78)
Miami OL Anez Cooper (73)
Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover (78)
Illinois OL J.C. Davis (74)
UCLA OL Garrett DiGiorgio (72)
Iowa OT Gennings Dunker (67)
Utah OT Spencer Fano (55)
Georgia OT Monroe Freeling (57)
Michigan State OL Matt Gulbin (51)
Oregon OL Alex Harkey (71)
Kansas State OL Sam Hecht (75)
Maryland OL Alan Herron (71)
Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor (58)
Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane (71)
Iowa C Logan Jones (65)
Auburn C Connor Lew (75)
Utah OT Caleb Lomu (71)
Miami OT Francis Mauigoa (61)
Clemson OT Blake Miller (78)
Georgia OL Micah Morris (56)
Oklahoma OL Febechi Nwaiwu (54)
Duke OL Brian Parker II (53)
Mississippi OL Diego Pounds (61)
Oregon OG Emmanuel Pregnon (75)
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor (74)
Texas A&M OG Ar'maj Reed-Adams (55)
Alabama OL Jaeden Roberts (77)
Georgia Tech OL Keylan Rutledge (77)
Notre Dame OG Billy Schrauth (74)
Penn State OT Drew Shelton (66)
Florida C Jake Slaughter (66)
Iowa OL Beau Stephens (70)
Auburn OL Dillon Wade (52)
Notre Dame OT Aamil Wagner (59)
Washington OL Carver Willis (50)
Oregon OT Isaiah World (76)
Auburn OL Jeremiah Wright (77)
Texas A&M OL Trey Zuhn III (60)
How big of a priority is upgrading talent level and competition along the offensive line this offseason?
It's a high priority for Holmes and something he said will not be ignored. He left open the possibility of additions upfront along the offensive line coming in from both free agency beginning in March and the NFL Draft at the end of April.
Specifically asked about the center position, Holmes said it's easier finding an immediate impact player who could step in and start in free agency since they've already proven they can do it in this league.
Holmes said conversations are still being had surrounding veteran Graham Glasgow, who is under contract for next season. Glasgow has mulled retirement and the team will have a decision on his future by the start of the league year. Holmes said the team is still having internal dialogue around Glasgow's future.
The team has not ruled out the possibility of right guard Tate Ratledge moving to center in his second season.
"There's still promise for Tate to move into that position," Holmes said. "I think that's the beauty of it. That's flexibility that we have."
Any update on the injuries and recovery timeframes for safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch?
Holmes said both players are doing all they can to get as healthy as possible. The team's medical staff has been in constant contact with both players but there hasn't been a hard timeline set yet on return dates for both players.
