2015 Detroit Lions Roster Analysis: Linebackers

Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

No. 54 DeAndre Levy

Age: 28

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 235

College: Wisconsin

Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy will enter in seventh NFL season in 2015. He is a former third-pick out of the University of Wisconsin and has quietly developed himself into one of the premier players at his position.

What he’s done in the past – As a rookie for the Detroit Lions in 2009, Levy recorded 85 tackles and one interception after starting 10 of 16 games.

In 2010, Levy was limited to only 11 games, missing Detroit’s Week 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 games. For the season, Levy recorded 72 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 4 pass-breakups. In Week 14, against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, Levy had 8 tackles and an interception of Packers QB Matt Flynn in the endzone in a 7-3 Lions win. In Week 16, against the Miami Dolphins, Levy returned an interception of Chad Henne 30 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 34-27 win.

Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

In 2011, In his third season, Levy started all 16 games for the Lions, recording 109 tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.

The point is, you see a trend here. Levy has progressed well since his rookie season.

In 2013 he had seven interceptions. In 2014 he recorded 151 tackles.

What he needs to do moving forward – DeAndre Levy needs to do exactly what he has been doing. Working hard and developing his skills. What the Lions need to do is re-sign him.

Levy is entering a contract year in 2015, and hopes between both sides appear to be that they hope to get a new deal done. (We know, you’ve heard that before).

“We’ve had some dialogue with him, and I think it’s ongoing at this point.” – Martin Mayhew

Levy has been robbed of a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past two seasons and is certainly an under-appreciated player league-wide on a defense who ranked third in scoring and fourth in yards last year.

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