By Adeniyi Precious 
The Detroit Lions aren’t wasting time when it comes to their linebackers. With free agency kicking off, they’ve already made some key moves—re-signing Derrick Barnes to a three-year deal and bringing back depth pieces Anthony Pittman and Ezekiel Turner.
They did, however, part ways with veteran Jalen Reeves-Maybin, creating a bit of a gap in their special teams unit. Trevor Nowaske, a restricted free agent, is expected to return, but Detroit may still look to add more depth.
While the Lions likely won’t make any big-money splashes at linebacker, they could target familiar faces like Josh Woods or Chris Board—both of whom have experience with Detroit and excel on special teams.
Ben Niemann and Kwon Alexander are two names to watch from last season’s roster. Niemann played every game and could be a solid option to return, while Alexander, who started a couple of games down the stretch, has ties to new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
At this point, expect Detroit to focus on depth and special teams contributors rather than making a headline-grabbing signing. They’ve already taken care of their biggest priority at linebacker—now it’s all about filling in the gaps.