The Lions don’t have to panic about their linebacker room, but they also can’t just assume it will sort itself out.
Jack Campbell has had a rough opening stretch, with blown coverages and missed stops against the run piling up. Derrick Barnes flashed early with a sack and interception against the New Orleans Saints, then went quiet after that. Malcolm Rodriguez opened the season as a starter, but Trevor Nowaske has taken on more snaps and handled the expanded role well.
That leaves Detroit at a familiar crossroads before the trade deadline: stand pat and trust the current group, or add another linebacker who can steady the middle of the defense. If the Lions decide to shop, there are three names worth watching.
Zack Baun is the big swing.
The Philadelphia Eagles linebacker would be a major addition for Detroit, and his contract setup makes him especially interesting. He’s signed through 2027, with a void option in 2028, giving the Lions a two-year rental window at a time when several extensions are already coming due. Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta are also on the list, and Baun’s 2027 cap hit of $11.8 million is manageable enough if Detroit ends up using the franchise tag on LaPorta.
On the field, Baun checks the exact box the Lions need filled. He’s regarded as one of the league’s best coverage linebackers, and that part of his game has been a glaring need in Detroit.
He has five pass breakups this season, which is five more than Campbell and Rodriguez, four more than Nowaske, and three more than Barnes. He also brought real force against the run two years ago, when he posted 15 stuffs for the Eagles.
The cost would be real, though. Baun would likely take a Day 2 pick, a steep price for a 29-year-old linebacker. Still, he’d give Detroit an immediate upgrade in a spot that needs one.
If the Lions want something cheaper, Mack Wilson Jr. is the lower-cost option.
The Arizona Cardinals appear headed toward some kind of deadline sell-off, though not on the scale of a team like the Indianapolis Colts. Even so, Wilson could be available for a Day 3 pick, and his contract is another selling point: he’s a one-year rental, which fits a team trying to think ahead to a possible cap crunch.
Wilson brings some upside as a depth piece, but there are obvious concerns. His run defense and coverage work both leave plenty to be desired, and this would be another reclamation project for general manager Brad Holmes.
With Nowaske already giving Detroit a usable rotation piece, the question is whether Wilson would actually move the needle enough to justify the move. Probably not.
Cody Barton sits somewhere in the middle.
The Tennessee Titans linebacker isn’t on Baun’s level, but he’s a steadier veteran than Wilson. His PFF grades show a 56.6 mark against the run and a 63.6 coverage grade, which ranks 31st out of 75 linebackers. Tennessee has already moved Jeffrey Simmons to the Chicago Bears ahead of the deadline, so more defensive deals wouldn’t be a surprise.
Barton has also drawn praise from Titan Sized site expert Justin Melo, who wrote of the defender:
His cap hit for 2027 is only $8.7 million, per Spotrac, which is a much easier number for Detroit to absorb than Baun’s deal. The Lions could probably get Tennessee’s attention with a Day 2 pick or even a fourth-rounder, and Barton would give them another experienced body to pair with Campbell and Barnes.
In Other News...
Lions Face A Huge NFC North Test In One Critical Area
The Week 8 meeting with Minnesota arrives as one of those division games that can tilt the tone of an entire stretch run, and for Detroit the focus is on how well the offense handles a defense built to make life uncomfortable. Sam LaPorta and Jared Goff are central to that conversation, with the Lions needing their passing game to stay on schedule against a Vikings unit that has made a habit of turning routine snaps into stressful ones.
Sione Vakis role also looms larger than usual, since the Lions will need dependable support around Goff if they want to keep the offense in rhythm. On the other side of the ball, Aidan Hutchinson remains one of the key figures in a matchup that could come down to which front can impose its will first, with the NFC North race adding extra weight to every possession. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Trade Deadline Pressure Is Now Squarely On Brad Holmes
The Bears move for Jeffrey Simmons only sharpened the conversation around what Detroit still needs to sort out before the trade deadline. For the Lions, the focus remains on the defensive secondary, where the front office has to decide whether the answer is a major swing for a proven cornerback or a quieter set of additions that help without forcing a heavy price.
Brad Holmes is now the one under the microscope because the roster is good enough to make a real push, but not so complete that every hole can be ignored. The case for restraint leans on the idea that key pieces in the back end are on the way back and that young help is still developing, yet the counterargument is simple enough: if Detroit wants its ceiling to rise, this is the spot where an aggressive move would matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Keep Getting Linked To Maxx Crosby For One Big Reason
Maxx Crosby is still in Las Vegas for now, but the chatter around him has not gone away, and Detroit keeps coming up for a simple reason: the Lions are one of the few teams good enough to make a swing like that feel plausible. The Raiders are open to listening on trade offers ahead of the 2026 deadline, even if Crosby reportedly does not want to be moved, which is enough to keep his name in circulation whenever an edge rusher becomes available.
For the Lions, the timing only adds to the speculation. Their roster is mostly healthy, they have not had to elevate anyone from the practice squad lately, and there is no immediate injury scramble forcing their hand. That kind of stability tends to make outside observers wonder whether Detroit might be preparing for a bigger move down the road, even if nothing is imminent right now. [Read more 🡒]