The Detroit Lions’ linebacker crew was one of their best units in 2025, but that position could go through some major changes this offseason. And depending on what the Lions do, it could transform the entirety of the defense around them.
Our 2026 Detroit Lions offseason preview continues today with a deep look at the linebacker situation, highlighted by the tough decision for Alex Anzalone.
Previously:
Lions 2025 recap: Linebackers
- Jack Campbell stats (17 games, 17 starts): 176 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 4 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 9 tackles for loss
- 90.2 PFF grade — 2nd out of 88 qualifying LBs
- 93.0 run defense grade — 1st out of 93
- 72.4 pass rush grade — 8th out of 43
- 71.4 coverage grade — 12th out of 80
- Alex Anzalone (16 games, 16 starts): 95 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 9 passes defended, 1 INT, 4 tackles for loss
- 67.5 PFF grade — 33rd out of 88 qualifying LBs
- 65.6 run defense grade — 52nd out of 93
- 65.2 pass rush grade — 20th out of 43
- 65.3 coverage grade — 19th out of 80
- Derrick Barnes stats (17 games, 17 starts): 78 tackles, 4.0 sack, 3 pass defended, 1 INT, 6 tackles for loss
- 61.5 PFF grade — 46th out of 88 qualifying LBs
- 69.1 run defense grade — 40th out of 93
- 54.0 pass rush grade — 38th out of 43
- 55.1 coverage grade — 44th out of 80
Jack Campbell’s breakout season has arrived. Campbell became the all-around linebacker that the Lions were expecting this year, leading to a First-Team All-Pro season. His run defense was impeccable all season, and he also clearly grew as a pass rushing threat when blitzing. The last step in his growth will be coverage, and while I don’t completely agree with his outstanding PFF grades in that aspect of his game, he is clearly improving there, too.
Anzalone had another strong season. He remains Detroit’s best coverage linebacker, and while he is no longer the “green dot” play-caller of the defense, he still brings incredibly reliable and steady play. You’ll rarely find Anzalone in the wrong gap, and he’s one of the most sound tacklers on the team. Anzalone even posted a career-high nine pass breakups last season.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind of season Derrick Barnes was likely hoping for himself. Detroit really seemed to have high hopes for Barnes in the SAM linebacker position, but Barnes’ pass rushing skills in order to thrive in that role were missing most of the year. Per PFF, there were 29 off-ball linebackers who logged at least 75 pass rushing snaps. Of those 29, Barnes ranked 26th in pass rush grade, 24th in pass rush win rate, and 24th in pass rushing productivity. He was more average when it came to his run stop and coverage abilities, but that lack of pass rush was certainly felt.
Detroit also got strong production out of Zach Cunningham as a short-yardage specialist before his injury, and Grant Stuard was solid on special teams. Malcolm Rodriguez’s return from a torn ACL was delayed, and he struggled when he finally took the field.
2026 for outlook
- Jack Campbell (2026)
- Derrick Barnes (2027)
Pending free agents:
- Alex Anzalone (unrestriced)
- Malcolm Rodriguez (unrestricted)
- Trevor Nowaske (restricted)
- Grant Stuard (unrestricted)
- Zach Cunningham (unrestricted)
- Ezekiel Turner (unrestricted)
The Lions have a lot of work to do at linebacker, but there are easy decisions, too. Of their free agents, Detroit could probably bring back Rodriguez, Nowaske, Stuard, and Cunningham for relatively cheap contracts to help build out their depth. Additionally, Jack Campbell’s extension is likely just a formality at this point, although it will likely cost them upwards of $20 million per year to match the top-tier of the linebacker market (Fred Warner, $21 million per year).
The toughest decision—maybe across all positions—is Alex Anzalone. The veteran linebacker is still giving the Lions strong play and he knows the defense better than any other player. However, he’s entering his age-32 season, he clearly believes he should get a raise from his $6.25 million per year contract, and the Lions are in a place where they probably need to get younger and cheaper. Detroit clearly still values Anzalone, but finding a price that makes both sides happy will not be easy, as evidenced by last year’s negotiations that got public and went largely unresolved.
If the Lions re-sign Anzalone, they could simply just run back their linebacking crew, and not think twice about it. For all the defensive struggles Detroit had, the Lions’ linebacking crew was the most reliable unit on that side of the ball.
If the Lion don’t re-sign Anzalone, things become a bit more complicated. Detroit could try to find a replacement in free agency or the draft, but any similarly-skilled linebacker is going to cost just as much as Anzalone, and Detroit would have to spend one of their top two picks to find a starting linebacker in the draft.
The better solution in a post-Anzalone defense may be to shift the defense entirely. The Lions played in three-linebacker sets more than any team in 2025, but that was because it matched their personnel. With only two starting caliber linebackers—and a possible re-signing of Amik Robertson or move of Ennis Rakestraw to slot corner—the Lions could, instead, just opt to play more nickel sets in 2026. Good defensive coordinators adapt to their talent, and without Anzalone, I believe the Lions would be wise to adjust their use of base defense accordingly. That would also have the added benefit of playing Barnes more off-the-ball, seeing as he underwhelmed on the edge as a SAM linebacker.
I know there are some that still believe Rodriguez could simply take over for Anzalone, and I won’t completely discount that possibility. However, I don’t think I’ve seen enough from the Lions’ 2022 sixth-round pick to believe that should be Detroit’s Plan B if they can’t re-sign Anzalone.
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