With three additions to their linebacker room this offseason – Jamie Collins Sr., Reggie Ragland and Elijah Lee – and only one subtraction – Devon Kennard – the linebacker room in Allen Park has become pretty crowded.
Collins, Ragland and Lee join Jarrad Davis, Jahlani Tavai and Christian Jones – three players who saw significant time at linebacker for the Lions last season – along with Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Steve Longa, Jason Cabina, Anthony Pittman and Christian Sam on the Lions' roster at linebacker.
The addition of Collins is a big one from a production standpoint. Detroit's leading tackler last season was safety Tracy Walker (103), with safety Tavon Wilson (98) and cornerback Rashaan Melvin (68) coming in second and third.
Detroit's leading tackler from the linebacker position was Davis with 63 tackles in just 11 games played. That ranked 60th among all NFL players at the position.
Collins, 30, started 15 games and played 81 percent of the snaps for New England's top-ranked defense last season. He set a career-high with seven sacks to go along with 81 tackles, 21 quarterback hurries, 10 tackles for loss and three interceptions. He had 104 tackles playing in Cleveland in 2018.
Collins (6-3, 255) is likely to slot into Kennard's role, but he's versatile enough to play any linebacker spot for Detroit. New England even played him along their defensive line at times.
Ragland, a former first-round pick by Buffalo in 2016, played in 14 games for the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs last season with seven starts. He's reinvented himself with the Chiefs over the last couple years after an injury-plagued beginning to his career.
Ragland recorded 30 tackles and 2.0 sacks last season, with a final Pro Football Focus grade for the year that was higher than any linebacker on Detroit's roster a year ago. He added two tackles in Kansas City's Super Bowl victory over San Francisco. Ragland had 86 tackles for the Chiefs in 2018 in a bigger role.
Davis is heading into his fourth season in Detroit and is one year removed from a 100-tackle, six-sack season, but he battled injuries and inconsistencies last year, and really has battled those inconsistencies through his first three years in Detroit. The Lions have to make a decision by May on picking up the fifth-year option of his rookie contract.
Ragland, a terrific run defender, could challenge Davis for playing time at inside linebacker.
Detroit's second-round pick last season, Jahlani Tavai, made good gains as a rookie getting significant playing time. He'll also be looking for an expanded role in 2020.
View photos of linebacker Reggie Ragland. Photos courtesy Associated Press.
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) in coverage during a week 15 NFL football against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Mo. Los Angeles won 29-28. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) rushes during an NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Chiefs 17-7. (Al Tielemans via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) runs after intercepting a pass during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) runs back a fumble recovery for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) enters the field from the tunnel for player introductions before an NFL regular season game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won, 26-23. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland gets set on defense in action against the Oakland Raiders during a NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 40-9. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) runs in pursuit during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Chiefs 26-3. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) makes a tackle during the AFC championship NFL football game against New England Patriots running back James Develin (46) on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (Greg Trott via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) before the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Bengals, 38-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) defends against the Tennessee Titans during the NFL AFC Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs' Reggie Ragland (59) celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs won 31-20. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) waits for the snap during Super Bowl 54 against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kansas City won 31-20 to win Super Bowl 54. (Greg Trott via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) in coverage against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kansas City won 31-20. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) celebrates during an NFL AFC Championship football against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. Kansas City won 35-24. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) lines up on the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Denver. Kansas City won 30-6. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) takes a defensive position during an NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) in coverage during in an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City won 51-31. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) defends during the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers, 31-20. (Ryan Kang via AP)
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The Lions re-signed Jones through the 2021 season, and like what his size and versatility bring to their scheme. He started all 13 games he played last season with 51 tackles and two sacks.
It will be interesting to see how the Lions divvy up snaps at linebacker between Collins, Davis, Tavai, Jones and Ragland. Does Ragland project as a SAM or MIKE, or something else? Where does Tavai fit into the mix?
Detroit obviously had a plan to bolster the talent and depth at linebacker this offseason, a weakness on their defense a season ago. Collins is a definite upgrade as one of the top graded outside linebackers by PFF last season. Ragland provides depth, and potentially an upgrade, especially against the run.
One of the better position battles to watch when football activities resume is how the pecking order within a reshaped linebacker room in Detroit will work itself out.
