Ray Agnew Press Conference | May 9, 2025

Ray Agnew Press Conference | May 9, 2025

girls. I had all boys, so I got two granddaughters now. So, uh, God is good. Huh? Something tells me the girls might be Oh, and yeah, no doubt. No question. No question about it. Well, glad to see you guys this morning. Uh uh, as as always, and and I’ll probably say this every year, man. This is one of the most exciting days for me, man. Uh, just just seeing the joy on those kids’ faces. they finally they finally uh reached their dream, you know, and uh and I understand that journey because and in that journey all the time, make sure you have a backup plan. Only one in a million do this. That’s so many negative things are said and then when you finally get over that hump and make it, you can look at everybody and say, "Yeah, I was that one in a million." So excited about these guys, man. And uh excited about talking to you guys today, too, you know. So, and the other excitement thing is for us, we put so much work into these guys. Now, we got them here and we got a chance to uh coach them up and see see if we did the right thing, right? You know, so uh that’s exciting part about this whole situation. This day uh and I remember this day and it was about 10 years ago when I got drafted. But if y’all believe that, I got I got some land to sell you. But, uh you know, it’s just a great moment, man. I I I can’t explain it, but you know, coaches and scout, we put so much work into these guys and now we got them here. So, it’s awesome to have them here. And then I’m going all talk about these guys, man. You know, uh as we watch Tai throughout the year, man, uh the kid just got better and better and better. Every time you watched him, he got better and better. And I think there’s a lot more growth in this kid. This kid got a lot of upside. I don’t think he’s reached his full potential yet. and uh he got a chance to be a really really good player for us and we was excited that he was there for us to uh to pick him. Uh great player. He got a chance to be a really really good run player and I think I think he’s underrated as a pass rusher. There are some things he got to be taught and and case coach Rogers I knew Dline coach will do a great job teaching him and this kid got a chance to be a force in the middle as a defense. If you’re not good in the middle you’re not very good you know. So, this guy helped us, man, with the guys that we already got. Uh, he’s a talented kid and, uh, loves the way he plays the game. Uh, then, uh, we drafted Tate Rage, a guy that we liked, we identified early in the process. We like, first thing you see, this a big man when you see him now. He’s long, tall, big man now. Uh, but, uh, you love the versatility of the player, man. He can play multiple positions inside in the interior. Um, I like the toughness, like the way he plays the game. Uh, the guy can get out in space, man. Those guys that can get out in space and blocks for a guy like Jir Gibbs and then he go to the house for a touchdown. You all, you love those guys. So, excited about Tate, man. Really, really, really excited about Tate. And then, uh, this next kid, I think he was born to be a Lion. U, this Isaac, uh, Tesla, I mean, you talking about a tough, physical, competitive human being. uh first notice where he stood out in the senior bowl is like when you go in the team period and he’s blocking man and he was just wearing those DBs out. I mean he just wearing them out and then the guy catches the ball. He everything is with his hands. He barely ever uses his body and uh tough kid. Good run after the catch. Uh we excited about him. I I think he got a ways to go. I think the upside this kid has, he’s going to be, he got a chance to be a really good player for us. He got to grow some as a route runner. Um, play more on the outside. Uh, you know, the kid played, uh, I think he was a wing T quarterback in high school. Then he went on a the Hillsdale and that’s where he made the transfer transformation to a receiver. Uh, but man, we excited to get the guy. And when the guy, I’m sure y’all heard the story already, he came here on his top 30 visit. He had when I first saw him, he had a Lions pullover on. And then the next time I saw him, he had his Lions jersey on. I was like, man, this kid is meant to be a Lion. Uh but what what a great kid he is. Uh u we enjoyed uh glad we were able to get this kid, but he was born to be a Lion. Uh then uh we we uh picked another offensive lineman fifth round, Miles Frasier. Another guy from the SEC, another physical guy, another guy that plays the game the way we like to play it. Uh there’s a guy, another guy with upside uh and love when Hank and them get their hands on him. This kid’s going to be a good player for us. And then uh we drafted Amed in the sixth round. And all I’ll say about Amed is he’s relentless. Man, he is relentless. He plays the game the way we like to play. He plays it hard. Uh he’s a second effort rusher. He can win with hands as a rusher. I think he got some upside as a rusher. And I think when co coach Rogers get his hands on him and coach him up, kid going to be a good player for us. So, we’re excited about him too, man. And uh I mean, what about you know the guy get drafted, then they get married. I mean, engaged in the same day. I mean, who would ever forget that day? I mean, and then the passion this guy has for the game. I I you just love it, man. And uh you’re going to see you’re going to see a relentless human being on the football field when you watch this guy play. So, we’re excited about him also. And then, uh we went back to Georgia, drafted uh Dan Jackson, uh in the seventh round. highly competitive player, um instinctive player, uh better zone and coverage wise, he’s better in zone than man. Uh the guy’s a willing tackler in the run game. Um you know, he going to he have some special teams value, you know, and that that’ll be key for him uh making our team and and then we got uh Dominique Love it. uh a guy who’s in in the seventh round also a guy who’s uh he’s still growing as a route runner, but a guy who when they get the ball in his hand, he’s he’s uh explosive and quick and got the ability uh to make people miss. Um but that’s the draft class. Uh excited about these guys and at this point I’ll take any questions that you have. You know defensive line play better than most obviously. Just curious when when you saw Tyl for the first time or maybe you saw him on tape for the first time, what was the one thing that jumped out the most to you watching him? Well, when he would strike blocks, when he would strike blocks, you could see the offensive lineman back moving back because he was such powerful human being and uh he does a good job coming out of his hips and and exploding through the offensive lineman. So, that was the first thing that stood out to me. You know, we always ask you about the defensive lineman naturally, but I’m just curious. I mean, guards are who you faced every day in practice, every day, in games. You know, what do you look for? What characteristics do you look for in guards that you want on your team now as a a front office decision maker? Obviously, you want a physical player, tough, aggressive. Uh, you know, the guys you hated the most when you played against him was those pricks, man. and they would hit you after, you know, you know, and they played with that grimy attitude and, you know, they would hit you after the play and all that. So, you hated those guys, but and you knew, you knew you had to come to work when you played against those guys. So, those are the type of guys you look for, those gritty guys, those guys that compete, they finish blocks and uh they block through the whistle, you know. So I I would just say those guys, the guys that you hated to play against, you know, this after the draft, but just for the fans who might not understand our process of getting players that y’all need instead of who some people might call edge rushers and stuff like that, just talk about Brad’s confidence and y’all confidence as a staff to get the players that y’all need to help y’all. How was that process? How’s it grown through the years or, you know, just really getting the guys that y’all need instead of feeling pressure to get guys that people might not? Well, it starts it started with with Brad and Dan being on the same page and then the rest of us, you know, we follow uh follow their lead and uh you know, and we’re not going to be pressured about what anybody says, you know, if if the guy doesn’t fit what we looking for, we’re just not going to take him, you know, and uh cuz at the end of the day, when the guy’s playing for you and he’s making plays, nobody they’ll forget that you took him over whoever they wanted you to take, you know? So, we just stick to what we believe, you know, and uh no no no no special formula or anything. Just stick to what we believe, you know. Another thing that Brad has said a couple times is that these last couple drafts haven’t maybe been uh as deep as maybe the first one that you guys had. Why do you think that is? And is there a breaking point coming soon? I got my thoughts, you know, why I I think NIL got a lot to do with it. you know, some of those guys making pretty good money, so they stay in school, you know. So, where it used to be a bunch of juniors would, you know, declare and come out, a lot of those guys are staying in school now. So, that’s my thought. I don’t know to be true. Chance for them to like flood out soon or I guess do do you see chance for like the dam to burst, so to speak, and maybe all those players who have been I mean, yeah, I mean, everything comes to an end at some point, you know. Uh I I think yeah you you know you’ll have like that 21 draft that was that was a really stacked draft you know but and it’s been a while since you had one of those. So and I think eventually it will you know stack because that was a co year you know you guys there was less football you know ahead of time how stacked that draft was at 21. Yeah once once you started looking looking at it. Yeah. Can you uh just you know I don’t know the process when you signed undrafted free agents right I I don’t know if it’s position coaches calling guys agents whatever was there a guy that you called and that you were especially excited to to land out of the undrafted Fraser class. Yeah I I I’m not going to say the name but yeah there’s a guy that you know I called and uh you know some of us get involved in you know when we’re trying to close a deal on the guy and uh yeah I got involved and closed the deal on the kid. So, I’m not Yeah, I ain’t giving his name up. Yeah. No, for a second because, you know, there’s open competition at those spots. Um Brett talked about the versatility of them even though Rat Litch only played Breitgart at Georgia. There’s there’s more there, Miles played multiple spots. What is the process between front office, Dan, Hank in deciding how much to put on those plate their plates early to to test that versatility? you know, how do you how do you formulate the plan of of how you’re going to practice with them uh to start their careers? Well, we cross trainin all our guys. We always do that and uh Hank Hank and Steve, they do a great job uh with those guys. Uh we trust them tremendously. Uh I know Dan trust them and uh I I just think they do a great job with them. And you know, these guys, you understand how much these guys can can uh can do mentally when you go through the process and you vet them, you know, and you find out how much they can handle mentally. And uh both of those guys can handle, you know, all of it, you know. So, we we feel good about that, you know. Great. There were some reports that maybe Brad was trying to trade 30 times all over this draft. I’m just from this perspective. I ain’t never heard that. Yeah. I’m just asking a period. Brad is aggressive. you know, he’s aggressive as far as trading, you know, um and you know, that’s something we learned back in LA, but uh you know, yeah, I I don’t know about 30 times, you know. Yeah. My question is then just being in the draft room this year compared to um others, was it a little bit more difficult because of your draft position to maneuver around the draft? Uh you know, I I think we’ve we’ve always been able to to move uh where we needed to move to. You know, uh been fortunate in that way. I wouldn’t say it’s more difficult than any other time, you know, to move 30 something spot that take it cost a little bit, but you know, I I wouldn’t say it it was any different than any other draft. You know, the difference to um say when you started to now players coming out of college, what’s the difference now then? Bigger, faster, more skilled and you’re saying guys are staying in so they stay in college longer. Are they more skilled coming into? You mean like since 21 or like you can take it back how long you want to go, but since Oh yeah, they way like if you if if you going back to my day. Yeah, they way bigger, faster, stronger, you know, uh all that, you know, coming from I mean some of them are. Yeah, some programs are, you know, are better at it than others. Um you know, I I would just say I’m going say this as an old school guy. I think we we were tougher, but you know, but uh but no, they uh I don’t I don’t I don’t see any issue with any of these guys. I just think that they’re more gifted. You know, guys are just bigger, faster, and stronger. You know, I I don’t know if that’s the question you was the answer you was looking for, but curious your thoughts on the getting the fourth preseason game. What are the what are the pros maybe? What are the consider something like that? Well, I mean, the young guys get a chance to play, you know, a little more. Uh, you know, far as like schedule and all that, that’s, you know, I leave that up to Dan and, uh, the coaching staff, but, uh, it’s an opportunity for the young guys to get to play a little more. I mean, get more more tape so other teams can see him. You talked about Isaac needing to work outside a little bit. What’s the biggest challenge with that move for him as he tries to adapt that in his game? I I think, you know, facing press coverage, things like that. Uh I think he’ll be fine, though. Um I think Scotty will Scotty will teach him well. Uh I think and the kid the kid learns fast, so he he’ll be fine. But that’s just the biggest thing. In this league, you got guys can get their hands on you and and they pretty good in press coverage. So that’ll be the one thing he has to get over him to come along. You know, he’s obviously got, you got Jameson, you got a couple other vets in that third unit. So, can this be, you know, that learning year for him? You you don’t need much from him or are you hopeful that he can be a Well, you’re always hoping that your rookie that you your rookie class uh productive, you know, and I think the kid will be productive. I think he’ll have he’ll he’ll help us, you know, when the year go on, but we do have older guys that can play until he get get to that that point. When you look at a guy like Ian who’s undrafted and comes in from a D2 school, what is that evaluation process like? It’s the same as the other guys. I mean, you don’t you don’t hold back on, you know, uh you’re looking for the same things. Will he tackle? You know, can he break down his p in space and tackle? You’re looking for the same things. And, you know, he he passed the test and a lot of those things. Uh now, obviously, the the level competition, you you think about that, but kid uh kid will hit you. So, you were talking about a man’s upside as early on in this camp. What are some things you’re going to be looking for to see out of him? Say that again. I’m sorry. Talk about a man’s upside as a rusher. What are some things that you’re going to be looking for early on from him? I just think some growth. I mean, it’ll be it’ll be some growing pains on on this level cuz you got pretty good football players on this level. I just see him uh you know, as he as he get taught, you know, more tools in his his tool belt far as a pass rusher, you know, using his hands better, you know, learning when to rush with leverage, learning when to when you when you got the sweet spot and turn the corner. So, uh, just just learning some nuances of the game, you know. Hey, in your undrafted class, were were there one or two guys that you were especially surprised to see go undrafted, like guys that you thought would have come off the board before you would have had a chance to sign them? Uh, no. I mean, I wouldn’t say anybody I’m surprised about. I mean, some guys we we’re happy to get, you know, all of them. We’re happy to get all of them. So, you know, I’m I’m not going to single any one of them out, but you we’re happy to get them all. When you look at this off season, it’s been it’s been so much change as far as on the staff, you know, with coaching staff and the front office and everything for you just being one of the steady guys to stay around. Like, how was it to witness that? Did that bring y’all any closer? How did your role change or how was it just to see so much change this off season, you be one of the guys that’s still around? I mean, you know, you know, when when you have success, you’re going that’s going to happen, you know, and and AG and Ben, those guys are two really good coaches. But, man, I’m a big Kelvin Shepard fan, you know, so I I have no reservations, man. Shep, I was a fan of him as a player and and as a coach, man. He’s he’s demanding. Uh our defense is going to be aggressive still and uh you know, so and the guy’s a great coach, man. And he get his players better, you know. Uh, so love love the move and Johnny Mo, we know Johnny Mo. So, you know, Johnny Mo’s creative, aggressive as a as a play caller. So, we, you know, we’re excited about those guys, you know, and uh I’m a big Casey Rogers fan far as the Dline coach. So, excited, man. You know, um it it was it was fun for me, you know, uh to to stay around and be able to uh you know, see new coaches and and watch the growth of the organization. You signed Ian Canelli out of Grand Valley State. You have a couple other players on the roster from local D2 programs. Do you pay any special attention to the local Michigan players even if they’re at, you know, lesser competition schools? I I wouldn’t say we, you know, play special attention or anything like that. We like good football players and and he’s a he’s a good football player. So, uh, he came to our local pro day and he had a had a really good day that day. So that’s what opened our eyes to him and uh you know hey and of course you like you like Detroit kids you know I mean and local kids man is always a good story so y NC State yeah I don’t got enough juice for that. Thanks guys. [Music] [Music] Heat. Hey, Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] [Music] Hey, [Music]

Hear from Detroit Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew on Friday, May 9, 2025.

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