I honestly think this is the strongest LBer group we’ve had under Dan Campbell so far.
Each year Dan has kept 6 LBers and the question for me is with the Lions wanting to run more sub packages will they keep another DB or stay with 6LBers?
I would have said there were 4 locks until Rolder went out with injury. it sounds like he will start the season on the IR.
I now think there are only 3 locks. Campbell, Barnes and Rodriguez.
White is the most intriguing to me. A former first rounder. Who has had some productive seasons. He has shown the ability to blitz. But he has been a bit sporadic and inconsistent…. On paper he’s the best of the rest but Dan doesn’t like inconsistent players.
Nowaske knows our defense and has shown he can back up the Sam spot. Although he’s primarily a ST players. The staff likes him so he’s probably the most likely to get one of the remaining spots.
Clark has value on ST and has had significant playing time as a WLB. He brings value that the Lions will likely covet. He also played with Shepard at LSU so the DC is familiar with him.
Reeder is Whites biggest competition for the 6th LBer spot. That is if the Lions even keep 6. He brings value as an experienced backup player and locker room leader. He also has the ability to be a sub package coverage type. I personally would keep the guys above over him and sign him to the PS to help the locker room.
The rest of the LBer options I think are long shots unless they really shine in the preseason.
My question to you all. How many LBers do you think the Lions will keep and who do you think we will keep?
I personally think we will keep 6 LBers. Mainly because I think we have more talent at the 6th spot than we do the last DB spot. But we could always target another DB in free agency post cuts.
The three you mentioned are indeed locks. After that I can see them going with any combination of what you suggested. Since we are guaranteed to keep at least 5, I see it like this…
Trevor Nowaske has the head start. Two of the three free agent signings would have to really have strong camps to demote Trevor. And even if that did happen, I think TN gets kept as a 6th LBer. He’s pretty close to a lock for me.
Devin White, Damone Clark, and Troy Reeder are battling for one (maybe two) roster spots. I would love to see White beat the other two out, so that’s who I’m rooting for. But I was equally intrigued with the Clark addition. Reeder for me is the biggest long shot. But I think most likely to end up on the practice squad.
Prediction (keep 5)
Campbell, Barnes, Rodriguez, White, Nowaske, PS Reeder, PUP Rolder. Can’t believe I’m gonna cut Clark but I just don’t see them all making it. My hope for White to make the team might have me with blinders on.
I think we see a lot more NB/3 Safeties and a lot less 3 LBers. Thats why I’m keeping 5. It also seems like we didn’t care to add linebackers who can cover. So why keep 6 of the similar type?
Agree Jack Campbell is a stud. After that the group looks pretty average to me. Need way more out of Barnes. I like Rodrigo but who knows post surgery, didn’t look right last year. Rolder has potential but potentially missing all of training camp and preseason is not good for rookie development.
Sure hope it’s minor. I’m almost scared to read the den during training camp. it’s just updates about guys leaving practice or being carted off one after another.
No doubt. If Alim and Tyleik are playing well, it changes things for the entire back 7. Sure hope that’s the case. Big money invested in Alim and a 1st round pick invested in Tyleik, the expectations should be high for them.
Hutch was a top 2 pick and got huge money
Moore a 2nd rounder.
Levi a 2nd rounder.
We have invested a lot of high picks and money in the dline. We need them to take over games
Let’s start with Moore. While obviously he’s going to play mostly edge. I suspect we will see him at Sam some too.
Campbell continues to improve and is a legitimate Probowl caliber player. It’s been a while since we had a LBer of his caliber.
Barnes is a wash if you ask me.
AA declined a lot last year and that’s why we didn’t bring him back. Rodrigo should be at least equal to AA. If not an improvement.
White is a starting caliber LBer who can play both inside and outside spots. The guy has talent (that’s why he was a 1st rounder) he just needs to be more consistent. I’m not convinced he cant win the starting WILL but at the very least he is a decent backup. I just watched a bunch of his film and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t make the roster. The only way I see that happening is if he’s a locker room issue.
I think most of us see Nowaske as a developing young backup SAM who is getting better with playing time.
Reeder is a versatile and experienced backup. We haven’t had this much experience at the depth spots in some time. While I think Reeder likely ends up on the PS. The Lions may choose to keep him on the final 53.
Clark takes Stuard’s spot. I think this is a downgrade but not a significant one. Mainly here to help ST’s play.
Add in Rolder to the mix once he comes off IR. Who I think will carve out a role as a subpackage type.
I personally think this group is a better group than anything we’ve fielded in recent years and it has potential to be a solid above average group of LBers.
White was the lowest rated LB in the league in 2023 and 2024. He improved some last year (though he still wasn’t great), but the Raiders used him in a very narrow fashion. I liked him pre-draft too, but I think at this point (turns 29 right after the season) you have to say he is what he is: a below average LB. There’s a reason he was just sitting out there for anyone to snatch up.
I worry about replacing AA in coverage. He was on the way down but I still felt like he was valuable and we didn’t really replace him. I suspect Rodrigo will to some degree and then we’ll play more with safeties as cover backers.
