Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh), we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions’ roster and how the team’s needs can be met on draft weekend. Today: Linebackers.
Previously: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, interior offensive linemen, offensive tackles, defensive tackles, edge defenders
Current roster outlook
Alex Anzalone and the Lions separated this offseason following a five-year pairing with far more ups than downs. Anzalone, 31, remains a productive player. But with Derrick Barnes entering the second season of a three-year, $24 million deal and a massive extension for Jack Campbell looming, the Lions simply didn’t have the budget for Anzalone, who secured $17 million over two years from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Grant Stuard, an impactful special teamer who was a captain in 2025, also moved on, signing a two-year pact with the Los Angeles Rams. Zach Cunningham (hamstring) and Ezekiel Turner (ankle) each finished the season on injured reserve. Both players remain free agents.
The Lions have five linebackers under contract for next season, in Campbell, Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske and Damone Clark. Campbell is locked in as Detroit’s middle (Mike) linebacker following an All-Pro season in 2025, and Barnes is likely primed for a starting-level role somewhere on the defense, whether that’s in his usual position on the strong side (Sam) or falling back into an off-ball role, effectively replacing Anzalone on the weak side (Will).
If the Lions maintain their heavy use of base defense (three linebackers on the field), Rodriguez figures to be the starter at Will, with Barnes at Sam. Nowaske has been solid, versatile depth over the last two seasons (422 defensive reps since 2024), with most of his opportunities coming at Sam. Clark, drafted in the fifth round four years ago, has been the lone external addition this offseason. He started every game for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 but has made only four starts since then, shifting into a larger role on special teams.
Level of need: High. In the short term, the Lions simply don’t have a linebacker who’s proven capable of defending the pass at Anzalone’s level, creating a clear void. Some concerns can be alleviated with a higher rate of nickel packages (five defensive backs), but you’d like a coverage-based linebacker on the roster to maintain flexibility. Looking toward the future, only one linebacker (Barnes) is currently on the books for 2027. The Lions have maintained their desire to retain Campbell, but the position is still light from a long-term perspective.
At the top
With Arvell Reese (Ohio State, No. 2 on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus board) considered more of an edge defender at the next level, Sonny Styles (Ohio State, No. 5) is the clear top linebacker in this year’s draft. Styles, expected to be off the board before Detroit’s selection at No. 17 overall, was incredible at the combine, leading all LBs in the 40-yard dash (4.46 seconds), vertical jump (43½ inches) and broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches). He had 182 total tackles (17 for loss), seven sacks an interception over his last two seasons with the Buckeyes.
CJ Allen (Georgia, No. 36) and Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech, No. 45) are next up, with both in play to be selected in the first round, though perhaps early on Day 2 is the sweet spot. Allen is known much more as a run defender, and his football character is off the charts. “I don’t know that I’ve seen a kid that cared more about the team performance than CJ does,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said in November. Allen missed only one game over three seasons under Smart (he injured his meniscus last November but returned 13 days later).
Rodriguez, evidenced by a fifth-place finish in voting for the Heisman Trophy, stuffed the stat sheet last season. He collected 128 total tackles (11 for loss), one sack, six pass deflections, four interceptions and an FBS-best seven forced fumbles (he has 13 for his career). A former quarterback who transferred to Texas Tech in 2022 and flipped to defense, Rodriguez also checked the athleticism box at the combine, particularly as a lateral mover; Rodriguez ranked first among LBs in the three-cone drill (6.90 seconds) by seven-tenths of a second, and he was tied with BYU’s Jack Kelly for the fastest 20-yard shuttle (4.19 seconds).
Teams who could be after LB in Round 1: Cardinals (No. 3), Titans (4), Giants (5), Saints (8), Bengals (10), Cowboys (12, 20), Bucs (15), Lions (17), Bills (26), Patriots (31)
Down the board
Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas, No. 48), Jake Golday (Cincinnati, No. 55), Josiah Trotter (Missouri, No. 62) and Kyle Louis (Pitt, No. 77) are all viewed as Day 2 options, with each providing something different. Hill is a well-rounded piece, while Golday is a great athlete (Relative Athletic Score of 9.84) with high upside who, as The Athletic’s Dane Brugler put it, needs some refining. Trotter, like Allen, is a strong run defender. He had 24 run stops last season and 30 in 2024, when he was at West Virginia.
Louis, at 5-foot-11⅞ and 220 pounds, is absolutely fascinating. He doesn’t have the size others do at his position, but he was productive in his final two seasons with the Panthers (24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles), leaning on his athleticism to make plays while in the box. At the combine, Louis ranked in the top four among linebackers in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds), 10-yard split (1.58 seconds), vertical jump (39½ inches), broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches), three-cone drill (6.97 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.19).
The explosion Louis showed with his testing numbers shows up on the field, as well. He uses his quickness to stick with opponents in coverage, posting a career passer rating against of 79.2 over his 32 defensive appearances at Pitt. He’s not the type of run defender Allen or Trotter are, but his missed-tackle rate on run plays (5.6%) was tied for 21st among 190 qualified linebackers in 2025 (minimum 250 snaps versus the run), according to Pro Football Focus. Any team interested in Louis, a linebacker/safety/nickel hybrid, needs a specialized plan on how to deploy him. He’s unique.
Harold Perkins (LSU, No. 131) could provide value as a potential draftee on Day 3. Perkins (6-0⅞, 223) would seemingly fit in well as a Sam linebacker, lining up on the edge of the defensive line to threaten both as a pass rusher and coverage defender. Perkins was at his best from 2022-23, when he posted 65 pressures and 13 sacks across 325 snaps as a pass rusher. His draft stock is lower than you’d expect because of an ACL tear in September 2024 and a move to more of an off-ball role that didn’t lead to success in 2025.
Best time for Lions to target LB: As has been consistently said throughout this series, few things can be ruled out on Day 1. Allen’s fit would feel a tad redundant considering who’s already on the roster, but maybe Lions GM Brad Holmes can’t resit the run-stopping ability of a Campbell-Allen duo, or maybe he’s all in on someone like Rodriguez. But with a couple other obvious needs (offensive tackle and edge defender), and with the talent expected to still be on the board in the second round (Lions pick 50th overall), sometime on Day 2 feels like prime position to acquire a linebacker, especially if Detroit trades down and adds a pick between Nos. 50 and 118 (fourth round). Ideally, whoever the Lions add at linebacker could help fill the coverage hole left by Anzalone’s exit.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions 2026 draft preview: Is an Alex Anzalone replacement available?
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
