Lions agree to terms with linebacker Devin White on a one-year deal, per report

Devin White, a veteran linebacker who started 17 games for the Raiders last season, is headed to Detroit after agreeing to terms with the Lions, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Detroit is set to add linebacker Devin White as the Lions agreed to terms with the free agent on a one-year contract, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report as relayed by Yahoo Sports. The move indicates the Lions’ intent to keep building defensive depth at the inside linebacker position as training camp approaches.

White enters the deal after a full-season workload with Las Vegas. Per the report, he started all 17 games and produced 174 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and seven quarterback hits. He also recorded one interception, three forced fumbles, and one pass breakup, stat lines that suggest a defender involved in both run stopping and pass-game disruption.

The report also notes that the 2025 season marked White’s first time playing all 17 regular-season games since 2022. Availability is often a deciding factor in the value of a linebacker contract, because the role requires constant communication in the middle of the defense and heavy snap counts across multiple coverage packages.

For the Lions, a veteran like White offers experience handling situational football, including diagnosing protections, responding to shifts, and adapting to receiver releases. Detroit’s defensive identity has leaned on physicality and assignment discipline, and an established inside linebacker can help stabilize the middle of the field while younger defenders gain consistency.

It also creates an offseason picture in which Detroit can plan around a known presence at a key position. Even when the exact defensive call sheet varies by opponent, the inside linebacker often functions as a processing hub, taking information from the sideline and making adjustments at the snap. White’s reported production profile, particularly the combination of tackling volume and ball-hawking impact, aligns with that type of responsibility.

Las Vegas, meanwhile, must replace a linebacker who was a full-season starter and a notable contributor in multiple statistical categories. The Lions’ agreement does not change the general reality of NFL roster building, but it does alter the matchup calculus for teams that faced White, since he becomes a new voice and body in the Lions’ defensive structure.

Detroit’s next step is clear: convert reported agreement into finalized contractual details through official team channels, then fit White into defensive meetings and offseason walkthroughs. What to watch from here is how the Lions deploy him in base looks and sub packages, and whether his snap rate supports the kind of all-season continuity the report highlights.

Why It Matters

Adding an inside linebacker with full-season starter experience can help stabilize the middle of the Lions’ defense as camp and the regular season approach.
White’s mix of tackle production and turnover plays suggests Detroit is seeking a linebacker who can impact both run defense and pass coverage.
The move also changes the Lions’ defensive depth and rotation planning, potentially affecting how often other linebackers see the field in base and sub packages.
For opponents, White’s arrival shifts personnel matchups in the middle and can alter game planning against Detroit’s linebacking group.

Sources

Key Facts

The Lions agreed to terms with linebacker Devin White on a one-year deal, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report.
The agreement was reported by Yahoo Sports on August 1, 2026.
White spent last season with the Raiders and, per the report, started all 17 games.
In 17 starts, White recorded 174 tackles, 2.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, one interception, three forced fumbles, and one pass breakup.
The report states the 2025 season was the first time White played all 17 games since 2022.