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Lions linebackers DeAndre Levy and Stephen Tulloch are back, but could be joined by rookie Kyle Van Noy (pictured) in the starting lineup. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)
MLive will examine each of the Detroit Lions' positions heading into the start of training camp July 28. Today we hit on the linebackers. Sunday: Defensive backs.
Locks: Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy, Kyle Van Noy
Competing: Ashlee Palmer, Travis Lewis, Tahir Whitehead, Brandon Hepburn, Justin Jackson, Cory Greenwood, Julian Stanford
The linebackers were a source of strength last year, with Stephen Tulloch providing his usual steady performance in the middle and DeAndre Levy blooming into one of the league's better 4-3 outside linebackers.
Levy picked off six passes, a league-high among linebackers and a feat that hadn't been accomplished in Detroit since the Eisenhower administration.
The Lions now return each of their starting linebackers, including Tulloch, Levy and strong-side starter Ashlee Palmer. But what isn't back is the scheme, and that imperils Palmer's spot in the lineup.
New defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is installing an attacking defense that will favor players who are versatile. And perhaps no position will change more than Palmer's strong side spot.
Austin wants a guy who can not only cover ground in coverage, but also move up onto the line of scrimmage and rush the passer. And no one fits that profile better than Kyle Van Noy.
The Lions clearly believe the rookie is a fit for this scheme. They traded away second-, fourth- and seventh-round draft picks just to move up five spots and nab Van Noy early in the second round. (They also got a fifth-round pick in the deal with Seattle.)
And you don't do that without a clear plan for the guy.
Palmer was fine last season as a two-down linebacker. But he risks losing his job this season to Van Noy, who can play in coverage and on the line. He even worked some with the defensive line during minicamp.
"I think with those things, you're going to get a three-down player," Austin said of Van Noy after making the pick.
Palmer still could earn a place on the team, though the wrinkle is this: He's slated to count $1.6 million against the cap. That's a lot of money to pay a guy who, barring injury, probably won't average more than a couple defensive snaps per game.
Among the reserves, Tahir Whitehead seems like the best bet to stick. He's cheap, at $623,000 against the cap, and a terror on special teams. He's even improved his defensive game, earning some first-team reps in the middle when Tulloch missed two days of minicamp.
Prediction: Tulloch, Levy, Van Noy, Palmer, Whitehead