Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it a point this offseason to improve the depth on defense with additions along the defensive line, secondary and linebacker room. The latter is one of the deeper position groups currently on the roster heading into the offseason training program later this month, but as injuries piled up on defense for the Lions last year, no position group was spared.
Second-year MIKE linebacker Jack Campbell held down the fort at linebacker while the team dealt with injuries to Derrick Barnes (14 games missed), Malcolm Rodriguez (11 games missed), Alex Anzalone (7 games missed) and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (7 games missed).
With Anzalone entering the last year of his contract, there could be room to add a young, versatile linebacker on a rookie-controlled contract for the next four years.
Linebacker class draft strength: Depth. There are some big names in the class, but more than anything, it’s a deep class that features a lot of experience and production. The Lions could be looking for players who are assignment sound and can play multiple roles at the linebacker position with former NFL LB Kelvin Sheppard taking over as defensive coordinator this season.
Lions linebacker depth chart: Campbell, Anzalone, Barnes, Rodriguez, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, Mitchell Agude, Abraham Beauplan, DaRon Gilbert