Story by
Derrick Barnes fully recovered from knee injury, says Lions are 'building something great'
- Story by
- Derrick Barnes fully recovered from knee injury, says Lions are 'building something great'
Derrick Barnes would have had options in free agency, perhaps with his former defensive coordinator and the New York Jets or the Detroit Lions' old defensive line coach and the New England Patriots . And he might have been able to get more money, too.
But Barnes told his agent early this offseason he wanted to stay in Detroit, and the fifth-year linebacker was willing to forgo free agency to make it happen.
Advertisement
"This is where I wanted to be," Barnes said Monday in a news conference at the Lions facility in Allen Park. "When it came down to it, I was telling my agent I wanted to go back home, I want to be in Detroit, that's where I belong and we're building something great and we'll continue to build something great. I want to be a part of it."
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) celebrates an interception from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield with linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (42) during the second half of the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.
On Monday, hours before the free agent negotiating period opened at noon, Barnes officially signed the three-year, $25.5 million extension he agreed to last week.
BIG MOVE: Lions adding free agent CB D.J. Reed: 'That's what it's looking like'
Advertisement
He said he's fully healthy after missing most of last season with a knee injury and blessed the Lions didn't lose faith in him because of his health.
"I give all the praise to them cause it's amazing to see," Barnes said. "And honestly it's, I wouldn't say shocking to me because I think that I put enough work in and put enough film out there to show what I could be … (but) it's emotional because I know a lot of people don't get this opportunity, especially come off of knee injuries.
"The fact that Dan (Campbell) and Brad (Holmes) put me in position to be able to come out and have confidence in me so I can have confidence in myself, means the world to me."
A fourth-round pick out of Purdue in 2021, Barnes played a rotational role on the Lions defense his first two seasons before emerging as a full-time starter in 2023. He was ticketed for a do-it-all role at strongside linebacker last season before he tore the MCL and PCL in his right knee .
Advertisement
He had 10 tackles in three games before his injury while playing as both an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher.
Barnes said he expects to have a similar role this fall under new Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard .
Sheppard, the Lions' linebackers coach the past four seasons, replaced Aaron Glenn, who left to become head coach of the Jets this offseason. Former Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams also left to be defensive coordinator for the Patriots.
"I've done everything in college and everything in the NFL," Barnes said. "It helps you see the field from a different perspective. Being on the end of the line of scrimmage, being a step back, being in coverage, pass rushing, doing all those things, that definitely helped my game when it comes to the IQ of the game and knowing what's going on around the field.
Advertisement
"So I love it. I love being that piece, that move-around piece on the field."
NEWS: Carlton Davis leaving Lions to sign contract with Patriots in free agency
Barnes is the fourth member of the Lions' 2021 draft class — the team's first with Holmes as general manager and Campbell as head coach — to sign a long-term extension with the team in the past 12 months. First-round pick Penei Sewell and fourth-rounder Amon-Ra St. Brown signed market-setting extensions last offseason, and third-round pick Alim McNeill signed a four-year during the season.
He said he's fully recovered from his knee injury and will be full-go for offseason workouts this spring and training camp this summer when the Lions look to build on their 15-2 season from a year ago that ended with a divisional playoff loss to the Washington Commanders .
Advertisement
"I just feel like there's unfinished business here to do," Barnes said. "We didn't make it as far as we wanted to last year, but (we have) years to come of great football and to get what we really wanted, we all know what that is.
"It's just my teammates, the coaches, the culture that we've built here, from the training staff, to the strength and conditioning staff, to the people upstairs, I feel like everything is put together and I don't think you can find that in other places. Like I said, again, we're building something great here and I want to be a part of that."
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline," at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. Order your copy here . Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions' Derrick Barnes fully healthy after knee injury, signs contract
