Lions Believe Linebackers Unit Deepest in Years

The Detroit Lions have a major competition brewing at the linebacker position.

Alex Anzalone, re-signed to a three-year deal this offseason, returns as the elder statesman of the group. Meanwhile, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes drafted Iowa product Jack Campbell in the first round of this past April's NFL Draft (No. 18 overall), to supplement a linebackers room that also includes second-year pro Malcolm Rodriguez and third-year pro Derrick Barnes.

Special teams ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin also is expected to receive some playing time as part of Detroit's crowded linebackers room.

At this present juncture, Anzalone, slotted to play at middle linebacker, is the only lock to start. Meanwhile, Campbell, Rodriguez and Barnes appear to be in a tight battle for the other two starting linebacker spots (weak-side and strong-side LB).

Anzalone, who believes the position group is the deepest it's been in his now three years in Detroit, feels that he and his linebacker counterparts should have to earn their playing time.

"I feel like there’s no secret, there’s competition in our room, and it’s out in the open. The best man wins, and that’s the way it’s going to be,” Anzalone told reporters Wednesday, on Day 4 of Lions training camp.

Campbell, as a first-rounder this year, and Rodriguez, coming off a solid rookie campaign, might currently have a leg up on Barnes for the other two starting linebacker spots opposite Anzalone.

Yet, Barnes, who was lauded for his play during this offseason's OTAs and mandatory minicamp practices, is doing his best to not let any of the talk of who will start get the best of him.

“A couple days ago, I had to sit back and think to myself, ‘That’s not the worry right now.’ The worry is not if I’m going to start, (but) if I’m going to play,” Barnes expressed to reporters Wednesday. “The worry is getting better and continuing to help myself grow and find happiness and comfort in myself. Competing, doing the best I can to let everything come by itself.

"I try so hard not to focus on (whether I'm starting or not starting) because when I do, I can tell the difference in my game. It takes away a little bit of my happiness when I do that, because I’m focusing on the wrong thing."

Through his first two NFL seasons, Barnes, a Purdue University product, has been in and out of the Lions' starting lineup.

In those aforementioned campaigns, the ex-Big Ten standout suited up for 32 games (10 starts), and totaled 114 tackles, including seven for loss, and three sacks. He also compiled three passes defensed.

The MMQB's Albert Breer, who visited Lions training camp Tuesday, believes that Barnes could be on the verge of a breakout season in 2023.

As Breer penned, "On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Derrick Barnes, a 2021 fourth-rounder, will be one to watch when the pads go on Friday. Detroit knew it was taking on a project when it took Barnes two years ago—he’d toggled between defensive end and linebacker as a collegian, so he was a bit raw coming out—and there have been lumps taken along the way. But his athletic ceiling was there all along, and it looks like he’ll have a chance to emerge as a difference-maker in the fall."

No matter what happens with the linebacker battle in camp, Barnes expressed that he and his teammates will continue to have each others' backs.

"It’s been competition, for sure,” Barnes said. “Everyone’s getting better. We all have our ups and downs, but as long as we pick each other up, it’s all positive. Like me and Jack, he’s supporting me, I’m supporting him. He’s amazing, also Alex and Malcolm.

"So, when Anzalone says (it’s the deepest linebackers room he's seen during his time in Detroit), it’s because we have a lot of LBs who can play at a high level in this league, and that’s what you want. You want guys coming to compete, and pushing each other and not tearing each other down. We know we’re all in this together. It’s good vibes.”