The Detroit Lions linebacking corps got much deeper in 2023.
After drafting Iowa's Jack Campbell in the first round, it was expected that a new face would be starting next to incumbent Alex Anzalone. However, the addition of competition brought out the best in Derrick Barnes, who won the job ahead of the season opener.
Campbell still wound up playing a big role in his rookie campaign, but the development of Barnes was arguably the most encouraging sign from Kelvin Sheppard's position group in 2023.
Here's a look at where the Lions stand at linebacker ahead of the offseason.
Reason for hope
The linebacker position may be the deepest position group on the defensive side for the Lions. Three players, Anzalone, Barnes and Campbell, played the majority of reps.
However, Malcolm Rodriguez started 15 games as a rookie in 2022 and Jalen Reeves-Maybin had solid spurts in relief duty at times.
As a result, the Lions have numerous options at the position coming into the offseason. Barnes and Anzalone each had the best statistical seasons of their careers, and Campbell showed growth near the end of the season.
As a defensive captain, Anzalone has demonstrated a tremendous ability to align Detroit's defense. The unit was one of the league's best against the run, which was a product of strong play at the linebacker position.
Anzalone notched a career-best 129 tackles in 2023, marking the second consecutive season in which he has surpassed 120 stops. He is under team control for the next two seasons and will be leaned on as a leader for the defense.
Barnes' development was the biggest story, though, as he put everything together in his third season. He had a career-high totals in both tackles and tackles for loss, and had a signature moment when he pushed the Lions into the NFC Championship with a game-clinching interception against Tampa Bay.
Campbell looked to be more comfortable in the middle as opposed to the SAM role he was asked to play at points this year, which led to better performance down the stretch.
While Rodriguez's role was smaller than last year, he still made big plays when called upon. He had his first career interception in the NFC Championship game.
The Lions also got big special teams production from Jalen Reeves-Maybin. In addition to spot duty on defense, Reeves-Maybin earned NFLPA All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for his efforts on special teams.
Reason for worry
The biggest area of concern for the Lions at linebacker is their ability in pass coverage. The middle of the field was often a concern, as teams routinely picked apart the second level of the Lions' defense.
Campbell struggled mightily, earning just a 35.3 pass coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. Barnes was ahead of him with a 53.2 grade, while Anzalone had a 67.2 mark in coverage.
While there is depth at the position, Anzalone is the only one of the group to have consistent proven production. Barnes had a solid year, and Campbell finished strong, but the group will be tasked with producing consistency in 2024.
It will also be interesting to see whether or not the Lions can get pass-rush production from its middle linebackers. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn generated pressure in unique ways late in the year, so he could potentially enlist his linebackers to add to the team's efforts in this area as well.
Biggest question
Will Jack Campbell take a big step forward? It was an up and down season for the rookie as he was asked to play multiple roles within the Lions' defense.
In particular, the Iowa product will need to be much improved in the area of coverage. While it wasn't a particularly bad season for the rookie, and he did finish strong, early on was a struggle for the defender.
He looked to be out of sorts at points early in the season, as he would over-run play-action concepts and sometimes was caught with poor positioning on run plays.
The Lions' depth will be beneficial, as the increased level of competition will put pressure on Campbell to improve. He seems to have the mental framework to continue improving, as he is dedicated to his craft.
However, it is worth wondering exactly what his role will be in 2024. If Barnes can build off his positive momentum in 2023, it will be a battle for reps. Additionally, Rodriguez could generate buzz with a strong offseason.
As a result, there will continue to be intense competition at this position ahead of the 2024 season.
Free agents
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Unrestricted free agent)
- LB Anthony Pittman (Restricted free agent)
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