Photo credit: Devin White (x)
Devin White has found a home for his eighth NFL season. The veteran linebacker and former Pro Bowler signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions today, the team announced.
Why the Lions moved quickly
The signing came one day after rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder left training camp with a leg injury. Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers reported the injury will sideline Rolder for a while. That timing tied directly into the Lions’ decision to bring White in. Rolder, a fourth-round pick out of Michigan, had played primarily middle linebacker with the second-string defense before getting hurt midway through Friday’s practice.
How White rebuilt his value last season
White was a 2019 first-round pick out of LSU, selected fifth overall by Tampa Bay. He won a Super Bowl in his second season and earned second-team All-Pro honors that same year. After five seasons with the Buccaneers, his career slowed down. He signed with the Eagles in 2024 but never played a snap for them. He then spent half a season in Houston before landing with the Las Vegas Raiders last year.
White made the most of that chance. He started all 17 games for the Raiders in 2025. He finished with 174 tackles, third most in the entire league. He also added 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception. Despite those numbers, Pro Football Focus has never graded him above 57.0 in a single season, flagging consistent struggles in both coverage and run defense.
Don’t have all the details, but the Devin White signing is directly tied to Jimmy Rolder’s practice exit on Friday. A source confirmed the rookie will be out “for a while.”
— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) August 1, 2026
How White fits into Detroit’s linebacker room
White joins a group that already includes Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes as the expected starters. Campbell actually finished just ahead of White in total tackles last season. That gives Detroit two of the league’s most productive linebackers on the same roster. Malcolm Rodriguez also factors into the group, leaving White to compete for a depth role rather than a guaranteed starting spot.
This marks Detroit’s second linebacker addition within the past week. The Lions signed Troy Reeder at the start of training camp and are actively replacing depth lost when Alex Anzalone left for Tampa Bay in free agency.
What comes next
At 28, White gets a fresh shot in a new uniform with a team carrying real playoff aspirations. Detroit took its first day off from training camp today and returns to practice Sunday. The first preseason game goes against Cincinnati on August 13.
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