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Lions would receive NFL draft picks if Dolphins hire Kelvin Sheppard

Story byJosh Helmer, Lions WireMon, January 19, 2026 at 11:45 AM UTC·3 min readDetroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard will interview on Monday with the Miami Dolphins for its head coach vacancy. It's an in-person interview for Sheppard with the Dolphins on the first day that employed in-person interviews are permitted for assistants who are under contract with other teams. If the Dolphins were to hire Sheppard as its next head coach, that would net the Lions a third-round compensatory pick in consecutive NFL drafts. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe NFL draft compensation is in accordance with a proposal that passed in 2020 by NFL owners to reward teams for developing minority coaches and front office executives who go on to become head coaches and general managers for other organizations. According to the resolution, a team is eligible to receive draft pick compensation if the candidate in question has been employed by the employer-club for a minimum of two years. There can be no break in employment between teams. In Sheppard's case, both of those conditions would be met.

Lions would receive NFL draft picks if Dolphins hire Kelvin Sheppard

Credit: Yahoo

Key Highlights

  • Sheppard joined the Lions' organization in 2021 as its outside linebackers coach.
  • Sheppard then served as Detroit's linebackers coach from 2022-24 before taking over as the Lions' defensive coordinator in 2025 after Aaron Glenn accepted the New York Jets head coaching job before last season. The Dolphins will also hold in-person interviews with Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Monday.
  • Hafley is the Dolphins' reported frontrunner. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Hafley "blew everyone away in his initial virtual interview."Monday's in-person interviews with Sheppard and Graham would also satisfy the NFL's Rooney Rule and pave the way for the Dolphins to finalize Hafley as its next head coach if Miami is intent on heading in that direction.
  • The NFL's Rooney Rule requires that clubs must conduct two in-person interviews with external diverse candidates for any head coach opening. Sheppard, 38, just completed his first season as the Lions defensive coordinator.
  • Detroit ended 2025 with the NFL's No.
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Sources

  1. Lions would receive NFL draft picks if Dolphins hire Kelvin Sheppard

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

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