It's very easy to feel like you can bet on a unit comprised of Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes to "figure things out" for the Detroit Lions this season.
Campbell, the captain of the defense, has had a rough start to the season. There's been plenty of blown coverages and broken containment against the run thanks to Campbell, but there's no way that his poor level of play can continue...right?
Same for Barnes, who kicked off the season strong against the New Orleans Saints with a sack and an interception, but has been fairly silent since then. Malcolm Rodriguez, who started the season as a starter for the Lions, has found himself with less snaps in lieu of Trevor Nowaske, who has done a good job with a greater role.
All this said, and it feels clear to me that the Lions shouldn't underestimate the importance of adding another starting linebacker to this unit. If they really want to go big, there's one name worth monitoring ahead of the deadline - or, two others that would cost far less and fill a similar need.
Zack Baun and 2 linebackers the Lions should monitor
Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Baun would be a huge get for Detroit. He's under contract through 2027, making him a two year rental with a void option in 2028. This would be ideal for the Lions, who have several extensions kicking in around this time and two others to get done with Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. His cap hit for 2027 is $11.8 million, which is a bit chunky but something the Lions could work around if they franchise tag LaPorta.
Baun is considered one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL, and that's an area of major need for the Lions. He has five pass breakups on the year, which is five more than Campbell and Rodriguez, four more than Nowaske, and three more than Barnes have on the year. Just two years ago, he posted 15 stuffs for the Eagles, adding punch to their run defense that's, again, missing from Detroit this year.
Netting Baun would likely cost the Lions a Day 2 pick, which is a pretty big price to pay for a 29-year old linebacker, but he could immediately elevate an area of need for Detroit ahead of the second half of their season.
Mack Wilson Jr., Arizona Cardinals
If the Lions wanted to go a likely cheaper route, by way of a Day 3 pick, they could target Mack Wilson Jr. The Arizona Cardinals seem primed for a bit of a sell-off at the deadline, but nothing to the caliber that a team like the Indianapolis Colts are experiencing this year. The Cardinals knew they weren't fielding the best team possible for 2026, so selling off promising players at the deadline is a bit counterintuitive.
READ MORE: An argument for and against an aggressive trade deadline from the Lions
That said, Wilson has some promise as an additional depth piece for the Lions, although his run defense and work in coverage leave a lot to be desired. This would be another reclamation project, of sorts, for general manager Brad Holmes. He's a one-year rental, making him an even more attractive target for the Lions as they look ahead to a possible cap crunch.
Would it be worth it to bring in someone struggling this much when you already have a viable option to rotate in with Nowaske, though? Probably not.
Cody Barton
Barton is another veteran that the Lions could take a look at, and he's more of an average linebacker compared to Baun or Wilson. He's currently posting a run defense grade of 56.6 from PFF, and a coverage grade of 63.6 - good for 31st out of 75 linebackers. The Tennesee Titans have already shipped out Jeffrey Simmons to the Chicago Bears ahead of the deadline, so there's a good chance they'd be open to more offers on other defenders this season.
Barton has earned praise recently from Titan Sized site expert Justin Melo, who wrote of the defender:
"The Titans appreciate Barton for his off-field leadership and maturity. On the field, he's an excellent communicator who consistently ensures the defense is aligned correctly. Sunday, you saw a Titans defense that is getting more comfortable with Saleh's scheme. Barton has played a valued role in the process."
His cap hit for 2027 is only $8.7 million, per Spotrac, which is a far easier pill to swallow than that of Baun's contract. The Lions could probably entice the Titans with a Day 2 pick, or a 4th rounder, to take Barton off their hands. They could use someone with this kind of character, and talent, on the field next to Campbell and Barnes.
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