- With the Lions drafting LB Jarrad Davis and announcing their plan to play him inside next season, it appears LB Tahir Whitehead will be moving back to the outside linebacker position.
- Whitehead had his best season in 2015 while playing outside, alternating between SAM and WILL linebacker. His 79.7 overall grade was the highest in his career and ranked 21st among off-the-ball linebackers.
- In 2015, Whitehead was strong defending the run (77.8 run defense grade) and in coverage (74.6 coverage grade), both career-highs.
- Whitehead moved to the inside in 2016 where he had his worst season as a pro, grading 86th among linebackers (38.0 overall grade). He also earned career-low grades as a run defender (45.6) and in coverage (42.5).