Purdue linebacker Derrick Barnes is off the board!

Barnes comes off the board early in the fourth round with the No. 113 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Making the pick is the Detroit Lions, keeping Barnes in the midwest to begin his NFL career.

Barnes started his career with the Boilermakers at linebacker before a one-year stint as a defensive end in 2019. He transitioned back to linebacker for 2020, but his turn on the defensive line has likely served him well. Barnes has the ability to begin a possession at linebacker in the NFL before turning into an edge rusher on third-down plays.

For his Purdue career, Barnes accumulated 226 tackles to go with 25 TFL and 10.5 sacks. His versatility should be on full display early in his NFL career.

So far, Barnes is the second Boilermaker to be selected in the 2021 Draft. Wide receiver Rondale Moore was selected by Arizona in the second round.

Barnes becomes the fourth defensive player selected by the Lions in this year’s draft. Detroit selected defensive tackles in Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike and NC State’s Alim McNeill, along with Syracuse DB Ifeatu Melifonwu.