The Detroit Lions made a significant move to bolster their linebacker room, signing All-Pro linebacker Devin White.

The signing adds a proven name to a position group that still has questions, particularly at weakside linebacker. White, still just 28 years old, brings starting experience and a Pro Bowl pedigree to a Detroit defense looking to strengthen its depth behind Jack Campbell.

The fit makes sense when you look at what the Lions need. They drafted Jimmy Rolder in the 4th round of this year’s draft, and they just made Campbell one of the highest-paid linebackers in the league. Derrick Barnes is still in the mix too. But after that, there were real questions about who would fill the weakside linebacker role. That is exactly where White fits, and he has been operating on the weak side for his entire career.

What has White done recently?

You have to understand where White is coming from. In Tampa Bay, he was the best version of himself. Second-team All-Pro, Pro Bowler in 2021. That was the peak. With the Philadelphia Eagles, the Houston Texans, and the Las Vegas Raiders, he has not been that player. He’s coming off an okay year with the Raiders, though it was definitely not his best.

He posted a 40.1 Pro Football Focus grade, which is not great. But he did start all 17 games for Las Vegas and showed he could still hold down a starting role. He dealt with some injuries in Houston, but for the most part he has been a starter wherever he’s gone.

If you’re looking at this signing like White is an automatic starter, I don’t know if that’s the right way to go about it. But he can absolutely come in and compete for that weakside linebacker spot right away. Detroit is hoping they can get something out of him, and if he can get back to even part of what he was in Tampa Bay, the Lions could have themselves a new starter on the weak side.

Who does this put in danger?

Here’s where it gets real for some guys on the roster. Damone Clark could be in danger of losing his spot. Trevor Nowaske could be in danger of losing his spot. Malcolm Rodriguez could be in a bit of trouble here too, because if Rolder wasn’t going to start on the weak side, that could have been where Rodriguez went out and started. Now that path just got a lot more crowded.

This is one of the bigger-name signings the Lions have had in quite a while, and it puts pressure on the back end of that linebacker room to step up. Rodriguez and company need to respond.

Could this be connected to the Rolder situation?

One more thing worth noting. Rolder left the field with an injury the other day. Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers provided an update, reporting that this signing is directly tied to that injury.

“Don’t have all the details, but the Devin White signing is directly tied to Jimmy Rolder’s practice exit on Friday,” Rogers wrote. “A source confirmed the rookie will be out, ‘for a while.’”

We’ll find out more on Sunday when the Lions are back at training camp. But the timing is worth keeping an eye on. Either way, having White out there is a big deal for Detroit. Let’s see how it turns out.