The Detroit Lions are in the midst of the 2026 NFL draft, which wraps up on Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh, but amid the drama of the event, some news about the franchise has emerged.
This news quietly slipped out on Saturday morning, first in the form of a report from the Detroit Free Press and then a confirmation from MLive, both local media outlets surrounding the team.
So, even though most in the NFL are focused on the end of the draft and what’s going on with the franchise’s final picks, this is still newsworthy when it come to the Detroit Lions’ offseason schedule.
Detroit Lions Make Change to Offseason Plans
NFL rookie minicamps, according to ESPN, are three-day spring practices, usually held in May, that are supposed to help rookies and fresh players get acclimated to their teams. But, the Detroit Lions won’t hold one this season.
Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press broke the news on Saturday morning in a report stating the team simply won’t hold rookie minicamps this season.
“NFL teams are allowed to hold three days of practices for drafted rookies, undrafted free agents and tryout players as part of their seven-week rookie orientation program,” he notes in the feature.
He added, “Typically, the Lions have held rookie minicamp two weeks after the draft, and often they sign one or more tryout players from the weekend.”
Last year, the Detroit Lions deleted one day of rookie minicamp. This year, they just aren’t going to hold it. Kory Woods of MLive also reported the news on Saturday, stating, that a “league source” confirmed the news to the outlet.
“The Lions have also changed their mandatory minicamp schedule, moving it to the end of their offseason program,” Woods added. “Last year, the minicamp took place in June.”
Detroit Lions Getting Attention in 2026 NFL Draft for Second-Round Pick of Michigan Star
When it comes to the draft, the Lions are getting, overall, good grades for their second-round pick of edge Derrick Moore out of Michigan. Chad Reuter of the NFL’s official website gives the move a B-.
“The Lions traded a fourth-round pick to the Jets to move up for Moore, a powerful rusher who can complement his fellow former Wolverine, Aidan Hutchinson,” he notes. “Detroit had a big need on the edge, and I believe Moore would have been picked by someone else if GM Brad Holmes had not traded up, so the price was reasonable.”
He adds, “Detroit sent two third-round picks in this draft to Jacksonville to pick Isaac TeSlaa in the third round last April. TeSlaa looks to be a keeper but that was a heavy price to pay.”
So, he’s not a huge fan of the move, but at No. 44, the Detroit Lions did something people have wanted to see from them for years. They didn’t overthink it. They went and got an edge, which is exactly what they needed to do. So, at this point, it almost didn’t matter who they got, as long as it was a pass rusher.
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