Monday Morning Rundown: 03/16/26

Welcome to The Grey Manes Monday Morning Rundown, a collection of news and notes form the prior week that impact the Lions, the NFL or whatever else catches my eye.

Newest Lions OC Cade Mays at his introductory Press Conference

Lions Players, Coaches and Team

• Lions to sign former Carolina Center Cade Mays to a 3-year, $25M deal with $14M fully guaranteed

• Detroit signs Isiah Pacheco to a 1-year deal to replace David Montgomery

• Detroit adds some depth at OT, with a kid who graded out better than both Skipper and Manu last season

• Lions lose Alex Anzalone to the Buccaneers where he gets a bump in pay

• Buccaneers also signed Al-Quadin Muhammad to 1-year up to $6M deal

• Amik Robertson also leaving Detroit for a decent payday with the Commanders

• Ray Lopez heads back to Cardinals after career year with Lions

• Kalif Raymond heads to Chicago on a one-year deal

• Tyrus Wheat going back to Dallas on a one-year deal

• Detroit re-signs LB Malcolm Rodiguez

• Lions will need a Backup QB, as Kyle Allen signs with Bills

• Lions officially awarded a 5th round comp pick (5-181) for the loss of Kevin Zeitler in 2025.

• Detroit officially released Taylor Decker and Josh Paschal

• Jared Goff and the Lions converted $32M in 2026 base int future signing bonus to free up Cap Space

• Detroit signing former Tampa Bay versatile DB Christian Izien

• After declining their RFA tenders, the Lions are re-signing both LB Trevor Nowaske and WR Tom Kennedy

• Grant Stuard gets a major raise to move to the Rams

• Lions bringing in Roger McCreary to be the team's new NCB

• Lions sign Ty Conklin to bring quality backup to the TE position

Rumors, Nuggets and Speculation

• NFL and the NFL Referee Association are on a Collison course in discussions with a May contract end looming

• NFL is exploring a Wednesday night game on Thanksgiving week...

• The NFLPA is electing a new Executive Director and four new Executive Committee members

• The NFL has opened early negotiations on the next TV rights deal, starting with Paramount/CBS.

Mock Draft Season

• CBS Sports Garrett Podell Post Free Agency Start One-round Mock - 1st Miami EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor

• Josh Edward's three-round post-Free Agency start draft for CBS Sports - 1st Clemson OT Blake Miller; 2nd South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse

• AtoZ Sports Kyle Crabbs two-round post-free agency start mock draft - 1st Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk; 2nd Alabama OT Kaden Proctor

• Mike Payton at AtoZ Sports has a Pre-Free Agency seven-round mock draft with some trades in it - 1st Clemson OT Blake Miller; 2nd Missouri EDGE Zion Young; 3rd Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis

• Mike Payton at AtoZ Sports has a Post-Free Agency seven-round mock draft with some trades in it - 1st Clemson OT Blake Miller; 2nd Miami EDGE Ahkeem Mesidore; 3rd Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis

  
  

NFC North News

• Chicago

  • Bears lost their WR 4 in FA to the Falcons and another DL from their defense and one of their Pro-Bowl CBs and one of their DL.

  • Bears lose three-time Pro Bowl Safety Byard to Patriots and their Pro-Bowl KR Duvernay to ARZ

  • Bear re-signed another LB and re-siging their LT Jones and re-signed backup QB Case Keenum for two more years and one of their depth CBs in Jylon Jones

  • Bears signing a NT, also are signing S Coby Bryant and LB Devin Bush and veteran DE Kentavius Street

  • Bears bringing in versatile DB Cam Lewis after losing pro-Bowl CB and an OT with injury history that sat out all 2025 that the Lions passed on

• Green Bay

  • Green Bay going to get a comp pick for a guy that threw 89 passes for them in two years

  • Green Bay traded Edge Rashan Gary to the Cowboys and Quay Walker signed with the Raiders, continuing their systematic dismantling of their Front Seven

  • Packers take another hit to their OL and cut a two-time pro bowl OL

  • Packers losing WR1 in Romeo Dobbs to the Patriots, add WR/KR Skyy Moore

  • Packers added a CB on Day 2 of FA and will be cutting a CB on Day 2 of FA and signed a depth OL and a former DL returns

  • Packers are losing their RB #2 to the Seahawks and one of their CBs in Nate Hobbs to the 49ers

  • Packers signed former Vikings DT Hargrave, cut hours earlier

• Minnesota

  • Minnesota loses their Punter to the Saints

  • Vikings lose another weapon on offense as WR3 leaves

  • Vikings kept one of their own at LB and also re-signed their LS and one of their DBs and starting RB Aaron Jones

  • Vikings finally sign a Free Agent in CB James Pierre

  • Vikings cutting DT Jason Hargrave and S Harrison Smith