Aaron Glenn heard the grumbles. When the Lions waited until the third day of the draft to add a linebacker, the critics came out in force. It felt like the club had neglected a position of need.
It didn't feel that way to the club's defensive coordinator, especially after Detroit took back to back linebackers in the sixth round in Oklahoma State's Malcolm Rodriguez and Jackson State's James Houston.
"That’s the one thing that everybody keeps talking about: ‘We should have drafted a linebacker,'" Glenn said Thursday during the Lions' first round of OTA's. "We got some pretty damn good ones, alright."
That remains to be seen. The Lions had one of the worst groups of linebackers in the NFL last year, and they did little to upgrade it this offseason. Put it this way: Detroit's highest-paid player at a premium position is Alex Anzalone, who ranks 50th among linebackers with a $2.25 million salary this season. They are searching for value in a room full of unproven commodities.
(Only two other NFL teams are spending less than $3 million this year on their highest-paid linebacker. On the bright side: the Chiefs and the Bengals!)
In free agency, the Lions added Chris Board, who did most of his work on special teams in four seasons with the Ravens, and brought back Jarrad Davis, their bust of a first-round draft pick in 2016. The depth chart is currently topped by Anzalone and 2021 fourth-round pick Derrick Barnes, who didn't exactly wow anyone as a rookie -- his coaches included.
On paper, the Lions don't have much at linebacker. In the minds of Glenn and head coach Dan Campbell, they have plenty.
"You talk about competition, let's take a look at that room," said Glenn. "You guys haven’t had a chance to see Board yet. (Josh) Woods, he didn’t get a chance to play (last season). Anzalone, probably the best season he’s had since his rookie year. We got J.D. back who’s motivated. Man, we got Malcolm Rodriguez, who I think is a sleeper. We have Houston, who’s going to be a pretty good player.
"Anytime there’s hard decisions about players, that tells you that the talent is improving on your team. And that’s what every coach wants."
Again, we'll see. One of those young linebackers, specifically Barnes, needs to prove his talent translates to the NFL. Or an overlooked player like Anthony Pittman needs to pop. (Or Chris Spielman needs to find his old pads.) For the group to hold its own, it needs to defy expectations.
Like Glenn, Campbell is banking on competition to be the spark.
"Out of all those guys we have in that room, it’s going to be a bloodbath in there," he said. "There’s a ton of experience, there’s a ton of youth, there’s a ton of energy. And on top of that, every one of those guys in there is highly competitive.
"I just think, man, when we come out with the finished product and the two or three (starters) that are left standing, we’re going to be excited about those guys."
Listen live to 97.1 The Ticket via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker