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Detroit Lions 2026 NFL Draft Needs: Linebacker injury report
TL;DR
The Detroit Lions are assessing their linebacker position as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, focusing on injury impacts and positional needs. The combined need score for linebackers will influence their draft strategy.
The 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching which makes it a good time to review the Lions' positional needs and how it may impact their draft strategy. Last year, defensive tackle got the biggest combined need score, and the Lions indeed filled that position in the 1st round with Tyleik Williams.
For the complete defensive positional breakdown, read Detroit Lions 2026 Draft Needs: DEFENSE Positional Rankings + Injury Impact. For the offensive positional breakdown, read Detroit Lions 2026 Draft Needs: OFFENSE Positional Rankings + Injury Impact.
The following is the review of the Lions' linebacker position.
The combined need score is the summation of positional need (0-5) plus medical concern level (0-5). The higher the score, the greater the need. Iâm reserving the focus to the starters and key backups here, with health of the starters weighted more heavily.
(In parentheses are player age at the start of the 2026 season, signed-through year, and medical concern level.) *Projected starters.
Linebacker
- *Jack Campbell (26, 2026, 1/10) - Delivered an All-Pro season after an offseason hip surgery. Expect his 5th-year option to get picked and/or a contract extension soon.
- *Derrick Barnes (26, 2027, 0/10) - Recovered from a surgical MCL/PCL in 2024 to have a reliable, albeit unspectactular, 2025.
- Malcolm Rodriguez (27, 2026, 4/10) - There is some concern about his ACL recovery which was delayed due to a follow-up surgery. He didnât play much on defense until the final two games.
- Trevor Nowaske (27, 2026, 1/10) - A minor elbow issue cost him two games last season.
- Damone Clark (26, 2026, 4/10) - A cervical spinal fusion in 2022 carries some durability concerns.
Positional need 1/5
The two starters are solid and are under team control beyond 2026. Rodriguez is a good 3rd LB, so the need here is mostly for long-term backups.
Medical concern 1/5
The starters are young and healthy. The backups are young but have some concerns.
TOTAL 2/10
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions 2026 NFL Draft Needs: Linebacker injury report
Q&A
What is the combined need score for the Detroit Lions' linebacker position in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The combined need score for the linebacker position is calculated by summing positional need and medical concern levels, with higher scores indicating greater need.
How did injuries affect the Detroit Lions' linebacker strategy for the 2026 NFL Draft?
Injuries to starters and key backups will heavily influence the Lions' draft strategy, as health concerns are weighted more significantly in their assessment.
Who were the key players in the Detroit Lions' linebacker position last season?
The article focuses on starters and key backups, but specific player names are not provided in the excerpt.
