Linebacker Derrick Barnes has endured his fair share of ups and downs to open up his NFL career.
Barnes, a fourth-round draft pick (No. 113 overall) of the Lions in 2021, entered the league out of Purdue.
In four seasons with the Boilermakers, he suited up for 43 career games, and logged 225 total tackles, including 25 for loss, and 10.5 sacks. He also recorded an interception, four passes defensed and a forced fumble and fumble recovery each.
And, along the way, he logged snaps at a variety of positions. In fact, he went from garnering reps at middle linebacker to lining up at EDGE rusher, and then back to patrolling the middle of the field.
Admittedly, all the moving around the field didn't exactly aid the former Purdue defender in his transition to the pros.
"You know, I came from college, and I wasn’t at the mental aspect that I wanted to be at,” Barnes expressed during OTAs this spring. “And, that’s just where I come from, no excuses or anything. I studied my behind off, and I knew it would take me time to get where I wanted to be. And, I’m just, I told myself to keep aggressive, you know, head down, keep working no matter what obstacles have been thrown at you. Just come out here and work, and prove not only to other people, but (to) yourself what you can do. Because I know what my ability is and I know what I can do.”
The third-year pro is still in the midst of fine-tuning his craft, especially in pass coverage and as a pass-rusher.
It's led to Barnes being in and out of the Lions' starting lineup through his first two seasons in the league.
In those aforementioned campaigns, the ex-Big Ten standout played in 32 games (10 starts), and amassed 114 total tackles, including seven for loss, and three sacks. He also accumulated three passes defensed.
His best performance as a pro came in Week 9 this past season against the Green Bay Packers. During the aforementioned contest, he produced a single-game-high 12 tackles, to go along with his lone sack on the season. In doing so, he helped Detroit secure a 15-9 win against its divisional rivals.
Entering his junior campaign as a pro, Barnes has admitted to being in the strongest mental state he's been since joining the NFL ranks.
"So, the main thing for me is (to) just don’t let the mental aspect hold you back from where you want to be,” Barnes stated. “And, that’s what I’ve been doing, studying even more than I ever have. You know, asking questions, and all the things I’ve done in previous years. But, just taking it to the next level, and just coming out here and showing everyone what I can do and what I’m able to do and what I’m about as a player.”
In 2023, I'm projecting Barnes once again to primarily record snaps as a reserve linebacker and to produce 52 total tackles, including three for loss, to go along with a single sack and a single pass defensed.
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