One Linebacker Lions Could Select in Every Round of NFL Draft

Examining linebacker fits for the Detroit Lions.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA;Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) is chased by Junior Colson (25). / Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions have all the necessary ingredients of a solid linebacking corps. 

In Jack Campbell, they have an exciting young player. Alex Anzalone is the veteran leader, while Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes offer exciting upside. Barnes, in particular, showed great promise in a stellar 2023 campaign. 

There’s also Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who offers a veteran savvy in a rotational role at points. 

Still, the Lions could benefit from adding young talent to the group, even if it’s just for competitive purposes within the room. 

Here is one linebacker the Lions could select in every round of the NFL Draft. 

Round 1

Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

Considered the top linebacker in this class by many, Cooper is a rangy and athletic linebacker. What stands out most about his style of play is his toughness and physicality. 

The defender stands out with his ability to get after the passer in blitz situations, as evidenced by him logging eight sacks in his final collegiate season. Additionally, he logged a whopping 17 tackles for loss in 2023. 

Cooper was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl but did not participate in practices or the game. He’s an intriguing player from a tools perspective and could wind up being an excellent addition to any defense. 

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (LB08) works out. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2

Junior Colson, Michigan

One of the most fundamentally sound linebackers in the class is Colson, who emerged as a key part of Michigan’s national championship winning defense. He finished the 2023 campaign with a 90.2 tackling grade and came up just short of a second-straight 100 tackle season. 

Colson doesn’t have eye-popping totals from a pass-rush perspective, as he had 13 pressures last year and just 2.5 career sacks. However, he has versatility to play either the MIKE or WILL positions and appears ready to contribute at the NFL level right away. 

Michigan linebacker Junior Colson (25) runs a drill during open practice at NRG Stadium in Houston. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Round 3

Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State

A veteran option in this year’s class is Watson, who played six seasons for the Bulldogs. He experienced a gradual uptick in production before bursting out in 2023, as he had career-high totals in every statistical category. 

Among the new bests established was in the tackle category, where he logged 137 stops and 13 for loss. Watson also had 10 sacks and 35 total pressures last year, per Pro Football Focus. 

Watson has played both the MIKE and WILL positions in college. Though he’s older than many in his class, he still projects as a good player with some fine-tuning of technique. He’s a solid run defender who can make an impact in coverage as well. 

Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Nathaniel Watson. / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Round 4

The Lions do not currently own a fourth-round selection

Round 5

Jackson Sirmon, California

A bicep injury ended Sirmon’s 2023 campaign early after just six games. He’s a traditional stack linebacker who doesn’t bring a ton of pass-rush production. However, Sirmon is a strong run defender who back-to-back 90-plus tackle seasons before last year ended early. 

Sirmon has 16.5 tackles for loss in his career between stints at Washington and California. He has good eyes and a feel for diagnosing run fits. Another strong trait of his is his tackling, as he graded out very well in that are per PFF. 

Nov 19, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears linebacker Jackson Sirmon (8). / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Round 6

Aaron Casey, Indiana

Casey was up and down in his career at Indiana. He has potential to be a standout at the next level, but his execution didn’t always meet that standard. Casey had his moments, though, as he finished with 20 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2023. 

His tackling grade per PFF was just 52.4, signaling a need for improvement in that area. He’s agile and can get off blocks fairly easy, but he had a high missed tackle rate at 18.6 percent. 

He is athletic enough to be a strong contributor on special teams early in his career, and may be best working as a WILL after playing mostly MIKE at the collegiate level. 

Indiana's Aaron Casey celebrates a backfield tackle during the Indiana versus Western Kentucky. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY

Round 7

Easton Gibbs, Wyoming

Gibbs is a punishing defender who packs a punch with his physicality. He had a missed tackle rate of just 7.2 percent while compiling back-to-back 100 tackle campaigns. 

Playing at Wyoming may have limited his exposure, but he definitely looks the part of a solid player who could simply fall under the radar. He has a nose for the ball and often flocks to ball carriers. 

Gibbs does a good job of fighting off blockers and wins with his hands. His abilities as a tackler lend themselves to a good chance of cracking a roster on special teams, while he can continue to develop into a rotational defensive player. 

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wyoming linebacker Easton Gibbs (LB13) works out during the NFL Scouting Combine. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports