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Detroit Lions: Why is Tahir Whitehead not a lock to start?

By Steven Mullenax

Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) yells as he runs onto the field with outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) and defensive end Devin Taylor (98) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Lions win 32-17. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) yells as he runs onto the field with outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) and defensive end Devin Taylor (98) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Lions win 32-17. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite posting a career high 132 tackles last season, why is sixth-year veteran Tahir Whitehead not a lock to start at will linebacker this year?

One of the weakest areas on the Detroit Lions‘ team last season was at linebacker. In fact, it was really one player who made up the bulk of the production from the linebacker corps in Detroit in 2016. And that was Tahir Whitehead.

The 2012 fifth round selection out of Temple exploded last season with a career-high 132 combined tackles, 99 of which were solo. Whitehead’s numbers tied for the eighth most tackles in the NFL last year.

The next closest Lions’ linebacker to Whitehead’s production last season? Josh Bynes with 38 total tackles. That means Whitehead recorded nearly 100 more tackles than Bynes. Wow.

Despite those terrific numbers, one Lions’ insider doesn’t believe Whitehead is a lock to start this upcoming season. And that’s due to the linebacker talent general manager Bob Quinn and this Detroit staff added to the roster this offseason.

"“[Jarrad] Davis is expected to man the MIKE spot, but the WILL and SAM spots are up for grabs,” wrote Tim Twentyman on the team’s official website recently. “Tahir Whitehead is being shifted over to the WILL, but he’ll have to beat out veteran Paul Worrilow and Reeves-Maybin. …The Lions play two linebackers in their sub package around 60 to 70 percent of the time, so this competition really comes down to who develops as the second-best linebacker next to Davis.”"

Obviously, drafting Florida’s Jarrad Davis in the first round changed things dramatically within Detroit’s linebacker corps. Still, Whitehead’s production last season should make him the favorite to start at weakside linebacker.

Next: Detroit Lions, NFC North Position Rankings: Tight Ends

But a new position could present new problems. Combine that with the addition of fourth round rookie Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and the free agent signings of both Nick Bellore and Paul Worrilow; and suddenly Tahir Whitehead has some stiff competition within the linebacker unit. And ultimately, competition at every position is what you want to have going into training camp.

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