One of Detroit’s most overlooked defenders is coming off the best season of his career. Don’t sleep on Derrick Barnes in 2026.
With Detroit Lions rookies reporting to training camp in less than a week and veterans arriving just eight days later, my 2026 player profile series continues with one of the team’s most underrated defenders: linebacker Derrick Barnes.
Barnes may not receive the same recognition as fellow linebacker Jack Campbell, but his impact on Detroit’s defense has been undeniable. While Campbell earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2025, Barnes quietly put together the best season of his career and proved he is much more than just a complementary piece.
Selected by the Lions in the fourth round (No. 113 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Purdue, Barnes was part of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes’ first draft class in Detroit. It took time for him to carve out a consistent role, but he has steadily developed into one of the defense’s most dependable starters.
Last season, Barnes started all 17 games and finished with four sacks, one interception, six tackles for loss, three pass breakups and 47 solo tackles. His first regular-season interception was a memorable milestone after recording his first career pick in the divisional-round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two seasons earlier.
Barnes also made a bit of franchise history. He became the first Lions linebacker since Chris Claiborne in 2002 to record at least four sacks and one interception in the same season. His ability to create pressure was another underrated aspect of his game. Barnes finished with 21 total pressures, ranking seventh among NFL linebackers, while his four sacks tied for the sixth most at the position.
Although the traditional statistics were impressive, the advanced numbers painted a more balanced picture. According to Pro Football Focus, Barnes earned a 62.2 overall defensive grade, ranking 41st among 88 qualified linebackers. He posted a 69.1 run-defense grade, a 56.6 coverage grade and a 54.0 pass-rush grade. He also allowed a 112.4 passer rating when targeted in coverage and was charged with seven missed tackles during the season.
Those grades suggest there is still room for improvement, particularly in coverage consistency. However, Barnes’ versatility and physical style of play remain valuable assets in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense. Whether blitzing off the edge, setting the edge against the run or dropping into coverage, Barnes has become a reliable every-down contributor.
The Lions recognized his growth last offseason by signing him to a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension. At the time, some questioned the investment, but Barnes quickly proved the deal was well deserved with the best season of his career.
The 2026 season will also bring a new challenge. For the first time in his NFL career, Barnes will not line up alongside veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone, who departed in free agency. That leadership void creates an opportunity for Barnes to take on an even larger role both on and off the field.
Barnes may never receive the national attention that Campbell does, but that doesn’t diminish his value to Detroit’s defense. If he can continue building on last season’s breakout performance while improving in coverage, Barnes should once again be one of the Lions’ most dependable defenders and an important piece of a unit with top-10 aspirations.
