DeAndre

Levy

Levy has been tendered at the second-round level ($1.93 million), while Hill and Hilliard drew original-round tenders ($1.26 million). Levy is coming off a 109 tackle age-24 season, and keeping him figures to be a priority for the Lions. He could be an in-house candidate to take over at middle linebacker if Stephen Tulloch is lost to free agency.

Levy was tendered at the second-round level, which would pay him $1.93 million next season. He’s still penciled in at outside linebacker for now, but will be a candidate to shift to the middle if the Lions lose Stephen Tulloch in free agency.

Given the second-round tender, Levy plans to take part in offseason workouts beginning Monday. Among 4-3 linebackers, Pro Football Focus graded Levy slightly below average across the board in run support, coverage, and pass rushing efficiency last season. He’s set to hit the open market in 2013.

Levy had a sleeve on his left leg after taking a hit from a helmet early in the game. Beat writer Dave Birkett calls it a “muscle bruise type of injury,” so Levy should be fine with a full offseason to rest. A restricted free agent in 2012, Levy tallied 109 tackles in his age-24 season.

He’ll be replaced by undersized special teamer Ashlee Palmer against the Seahawks, upgrading Marshawn Lynch’s fantasy matchup. Levy had 37 tackles in Detroit’s initial six games. The extent of his hamstring injury is unknown.

Despite a move from the middle to the weak side, Levy remains a tackling machine when healthy. He racked up a career-high 13 in Monday night’s win over the Bears and had 10 tackles the week before that. Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch is second on the team with 32 tackles.

Both linebackers are among the eight Lions starters slated to hit unrestricted free agency. Travis Lewis and Tahir Whitehead, both selected late in the 2012 draft, are viewed as potential replacements in the starting lineup.

Struggling through a hamstring injury last season, Levy graded out 41st among 43 qualifying 4-3 outside linebackers according to ProFootballFocus. He posted 81 tackles, no sacks, no forced fumbles and one interception. Still, the cap-strapped Lions apparently see him as an affordable complement to every-down MLB Stephen Tulloch. Free agent SLB Justin Durant now appears unlikely to be back in Detroit.

While he struggled at times against the run, Levy recorded an impressive six interceptions and 15 passes defensed. Levy graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 out of 132 qualifying linebackers in coverage for the 2013 regular season.

Levy’s next step is getting cleared for 11-on-11 work. He looks finally over his 2015 hip issues. Levy should be fully healthy for training camp.