Lions News and Nuggets - 02/16/26

Our weekly segment on Lions News, nuggets and rumors that have occurred within the last time frame that this was posted.

Lions Coach Dan Skipper

Lions Players, Coaches and Team

• The Lions blocked the Dolphins from interviewing Offensive Assistant Bruce Gradkowski for their QB Coach.

• Dan Skipper has been hired to the Detroit Lions Coaching Staff

• On Feb 13th, DJ Reader and Alex Anzalone's' contracts officially voided, adding ~$5M to the Lions Dead Cap for 23025, which now stands at $9.3M.

• The death of former Lions DE Tracy Scroggins was mourned by all in the Detroit Lions community.

• The Detroit Lions Official X account is posting highlights of players form the 2025 season. Latest are Jack Campbell, Jameson Williams and Penei Sewell

• The Lions sent a four-minute introductory video to Season Ticket holders for new OC Drew Petzing

• The Lions posted a 15+ minute montage of every turnover forced by the team in 2025 and a three-minute clip on Valentine's Day of pass breakups.

• Congrats to Jack Campbell and his wife on the announcement of their first child.

• Alex Anzalone complained about the Lions Social Media team leaving him out of the valentine's day Pass Breakup video (he had a career high 9) and then subsequently deleted them and said he always had a beef with the Lions Social team and people are taking his X too seriously.

Rumors, Nuggets and Speculation

• The NFL Combine is scheduled for 2/22/26 - 3/2/26, here is the list of the 319 invited players

• The five National broadcast Partners (Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN and Amazon) have announced their upfront dates, which general lead to leaks of matchups before the NFL's official schedule release in Mid-May.

• There appears to be a groundswell by teams to push to extend the future pick trade limits to more than three years' worth of picks.

• Max Crosby may be in play for any team as he has reportedly told the Raiders and Tom Brady that he won't play for them ever again

• Super bowl LXII in Atlanta doesn't have a specific date yet could be due to push for 18 games.

• Ford Field is losing the College Bowl game that Detroit has hosted for the last 29 years

• Video of Dan Campbell explaining how he likes to structure his coaching meetings

Mock Draft Season

• Tim Twentyman Mock 1.0 of Detroitlions.com - Alabama OT Kayden Proctor

• Russel Brown Mock 1.0 The Lions Wire - Utah OT Caleb Lomu

• Chad Reuter NFL Media Three-Round Mock - 1st Penn: St OG Olaivavega Ioane; 2nd: Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds

• Field Yates at ESPN drops his First Round Mock - Georgia OT Monroe Freeling

• Mike Payton at AtoZ Sports has a Seven Round Mock Draft with a couple of trades for picks and players

• Ryan McCrystal's Mock Draft 1.0 over at Warren Sharp Football - Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald

• The Oakland Press's Christian Booker latest seven-round mock - 1st Penn: St OG Olaivavega Ioane; 2nd: Texas DT Lee Hunter

NFC North News

• Vikings losing their OL coach to the Eagles

• Packers have lost their DC, QB Coach, LB Coach, DBs Coach, WRs Coach, Defensive Pass Game Coordinator, defensive QC Coach and Assistant Special Teams Coach

Things I think are Noteworthy

• In Living Color is the reason the Super Bowl has an elaborate halftime show

• Red Wings and Tigers are leaving Fan Dual Sports Network and moving to broadcasts distributed by MLB

• Justin Verlander is back in the old English D for one last ride...