As the Detroit Lions prepare to address roster needs heading into next season, we wonder if linebacker will be considered in need of an upgrade.
Of all the areas that the Detroit Lions need to address this offseason, linebacker wouldn’t appear to be one of them. Detroit seemed to have all but secured the position last year, using a second-round selection to obtain Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
On the surface, the Lions seem stacked at linebacker for 2020. According to Spotrac.com. none of their players along the linebacker corps are scheduled to hit free agency in March.
Former first-rounder Jarrad Davis has a year left on his rookie contract and Detroit can opt to pick up his fifth-year option for 2021. Linebacker Devon Kennard signed a three-year deal back in March of 2018.
Christian Jones inked a new a two-year contract extension in November, locking his services up through 2021. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is a key reserve for Detroit who started in three games last season and still has one year left on his rookie deal. And, of course, Tavai is only entering his second season in Motown.
Outside of a possible developmental rookie and/or a special teams ace, the linebacker position appears to be full. Yet, this is a unit that certainly underperformed in 2019.
Out of this group, only Kennard scored a positive rating from Pro Football Focus last season. He recorded 58 total tackles and 7.0 sacks, the latter tying him with high-priced free agent defensive end Trey Flowers as the Lions’ sack leader. Kennard also led the team with nine tackles for loss and had 15 quarterback hits.
Here’s what Benjamin Raven of MLive.com wrote recently about the Lions’ linebacker unit heading into 2020.
"“There is the allure of stability entering Year 3 of Patricia and Quinn with every linebacker locked up, but the results on the field have been clear to this point at the position. [Jarrad] Davis has not taken the steps forward expected of a first-round pick, [Christian] Jones was a near liability and the unit played a large part in blowing a league-worst six fourth-quarter leads.”"
The fact is the Lions’ defense played so poorly last season, no one should feel safe going into 2020. Detroit ranked 31st in yards allowed (6,406), dead last in pass defense (4,551), and 21st against the run (1,855) according to ESPN.com.
The Detroit Lions could certainly look to either free agency or the upcoming draft in order to address the lack of quality play at the linebacker position. But with both head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn returning for their third season together, they’ll likely look to address other more glaring needs on their roster and simply hope to coach up this unit in what clearly appears to be a make-or-break season for the duo.