On the roster: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Grant Stuard, Zach Cunningham, Ezekiel Turner, Trevor Nowaske, Anthony Pittman, DaRon Gilbert
Key losses: None
| Name | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Anzalone | 10 | 63 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Jack Campbell | 17 | 131 | 5 | 1.5 |
| Derrick Barnes | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Malcolm Rodriguez | 10 | 43 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Grant Stuard^ | 17 | 40 | 2 | 0.0 |
| Zach Cunningham^ | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Ezekiel Turner | 9 | 12 | 0 | 0.5 |
| DaRon Gilbert | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevor Nowaske | 14 | 23 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Anthony Pittman | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |
^with another team
Best competition: Depth pecking order
Anzalone (WILL), Campbell (MIKE) and Barnes (SAM) are an experienced and solid starting three. There could be a couple breakout performances in the works there with Campbell and Barnes in 2025.
But as last year showed all Lions fans, depth is critical. That's where new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and new linebackers coach Shaun Dion Hamilton have to feel pretty good about their linebacker room heading into camp.
The team views Rodriguez as a fourth starter with 24 career starts under his belt but he isn't expected back in the lineup until potentially November after tearing his ACL midseason last year. Until he's back, it will be interesting to see how the depth stacks up with Stuard, Cunningham, Turner, Pittman and Nowaske having 330 games and 98 NFL starts between them. That's some serious experience for depth.
It's one of the most veteran rooms on the roster which will be important for this defense as they execute Sheppard's vision in camp.
Twentyman's take: Lions fans should feel really good about the experience, talent and depth at linebacker for this football team heading into 2025. Anzalone, Campbell and Barnes are all experienced players within the scheme with a track record of solid production. That experience will allow Sheppard to hit the ground running implementing his scheme come the start of training camp. They all know Sheppard well as he led their room the last four years before taking over as coordinator this offseason.
Behind those three is a lot of experienced depth that's seen just about everything an offense can throw at them. That depth will also serve as the core for Detroit's special teams with players like Rodriguez, Stuard and Pittman, in particular, really excelling on teams over their careers.
Campbell is coming off a 131-tackle second season in 2024 and could be poised for a breakout season. He's an athletic freak in the middle with his size and speed and has the mental makeup to take the next step and compete for a Pro Bowl nod at linebacker. He was one-of-five linebackers to log at least 125 tackles, five tackles for loss, five passes defended and one forced fumble last season. That list also included Germaine Pratt (Cincinnati), Patrick Queen (Pittsburgh), Fred Warner (San Francisco) and Zaire Franklin (Indianapolis).
Getting Barnes back healthy is huge for this defense. The SAM position is so unique and it takes a specific skillset being able to play on the ball and off in space. Detroit missed Barnes after he was lost for the year Week 3 with a knee injury. The Lions expect him to have a big season after signing him to a contract extension this offseason.
Anzalone has been Detroit's most consistent linebacker for a few years now but didn't take part in the voluntary offseason training program. It's a contract year for Anzalone.
Overall the Lions should feel really good about their linebacker room.
View photos of the Detroit Lions linebackers heading into training camp.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 20, 2024 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 3, 2024 in Green Bay, Wis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10, 2024 in Houston. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) sacks quarterback during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 27, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on June 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on May 29, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 21, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on June 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 30, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 5, 2024 in Detroit. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 22, 2024 in Chicago. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 28, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 28, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 24, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 17, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on May 28, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on June 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during OTAs at the Meijer Performance Center on June 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 30, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 1, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (41) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 7, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (41) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on May 19, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Ezekiel Turner (47) during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 30, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Ezekiel Turner (47) during an NFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Washington Commanders on January 18, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham runs a drill during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert (43) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
By the numbers:
41.4: Opponents were just 12-for-29 on fourth down (41.4 percent) against Detroit's defense last year. Only Minnesota (37.1) allowed a lower conversion percentage.
72.9: Detroit's defense had the lowest passer rating allowed in the red zone last year.
86: Rushing first downs allowed by the Lions in 2024. That total was the fourth best in the NFL behind only Baltimore (69), Denver (82) and Minnesota (83).
114.4: The passer rating for opposing quarterbacks when targeting Campbell in coverage. It's one area of his game he needs to continue to develop. Opponents were 35-for-45 passing with 436 yards but only one touchdown.
226: Total number of tackles for Campbell through his first two seasons. Only Campbell, Chris Spielman (278), Ernie Sims (259) and Bennie Blades (202) have recorded at least 200 tackles in their first two seasons in franchise history.
Quotable: "The role that SAM linebacker has, you see it on the game film, he's stacked off the ball, he's on the end of the line of scrimmage, he's walked out in the slot. That's a lot of different jobs for one player to handle," senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach David Corrao said this offseason.
"It's a very unique position to play, so therefore in my opinion, that's a hard position for us to fill with one (backup) player. The idea that you're going to have a player as unique as Derrick Barnes is with his ability on the edge, his ability to pressure from the middle, his ability to drop in coverage.
"The idea that you would have a second player with that level of skillset that's sitting behind somebody on the depth chart I don't see how realistic that is. Somebody with that level of skillset you're going to want on the field as much as you can."
