When Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 of the 2024 season, his future was uncertain. In the final year of his rookie contract, the talented linebacker was forced to watch the remainder of the year from the sideline.

The NFL calendar says that free agency won't be starting until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, but don't be fooled by that. The real action begins Monday when the legal tampering period opens at noon ET and we'll be covering all of that action here in our live blog.

Free agents can't officially sign until Wednesday, but expect a couple of busy days around the league as negotiations begin.

Trevor Nowaske is an exclusive-rights free agent who is also expected back to add depth to the SAM linebacker spot behind Barnes. The Lions may add another body or two either to the room or back to the room, with the staff loving Ben Niemann last year, who remains unsigned.