The Lions make the right move holding onto Derrick Barnes, but don't expect them to shy away from linebackers in the draft

We have our first big Lions news item of the offseason. The Detroit Lions will not be letting Derrick Barnes hit free agency. They have decided to pay the man with a three-year extension worth $25 million. 

Barnes was drafted in the fourth round by the Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft and right away he showed some promise, but it was in 2023 that Barnes really stepped up and showed that he could be this team's SAM linebacker going forward. Plus he had a huge interception in the Divisional round and that sent the Lions back to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1991. 

Barnes was having a very good 2024 until he suffered a season-ending ACL injury against the Cardinals. It made a lot of sense that the team would look to bring him back, but there was some fear that he could head to the Jets with Aaron Glenn. 

The Lions have shown a lot of interest in linebackers in the draft so far. Don't expect that to change with this extension. The Lions have particularly been looking at outside linebackers who could take over for Alex Anzalone, who is going into the final year of his deal. 

So far the Lions have kept their eyes on Alabama's Jihaad Campbell, Penn State's Kobe King, Ole Miss' Chris "Pooh" Paul, Auburn's Jalen McLeod, Minnesota's Cody Lindenberg and Georgia's Chaz Chambliss. 

We'll soon see what the Lions decide to do to strengthen up and bring youth to their linebacker corps. But this is a big step to make sure the Lions can have some continuity and see Barnes' continued growth.