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Al-Quadin Muhammad leaving Lions for Buccaneers after breakout season
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- Al-Quadin Muhammad leaving Lions for Buccaneers after breakout season
After years of toiling in obscurity, Al-Quadin Muhammad made a name for himself in 2025 with the Detroit Lions.
On Thursday, March 12, he cashed in on his 2025 breakout season by signing a new one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers worth up to $6 million, according to NFL Network.
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Muhammad is coming off a career year in which he collected 11 sacks – tied for the 11th-highest total in the NFL, emerging as a pass-rush threat opposite of star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson , even though he didn't start a single game.
Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) celebrates a tackle against Chicago Bears during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
Referring to the position flexibility Muhammad flashed as he racked up his stats, Hutchinson said, "He did it inside, did it outside."
His production far exceeded expectations, considering the 30-year-old Muhammad was seen as nothing more than a bit player heading into last season.
Muhammad, after all, had bounced around the league and had done little to distinguish himself before the Lions added him to their practice squad in October 2024 as their defense gradually became ravaged by injuries. After being elevated to the active roster shortly thereafter, he proved his worth, contributing three sacks and 24 pressures in nine games. The Lions were impressed enough to retain him as a depth piece, re-signing him to a one-year, $1.4 million contract last March.
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He turned into much more than that after oft-injured edge defender Marcus Davenport suffered a pectoral strain in a Week 2 victory over Chicago last September. Over the final 16 games, Muhammad would generate 52 pressures – the second-highest total on the team. His sacks, meanwhile, came in bunches. He picked up 2½ in a win over Baltimore , three more in a victory over Dallas and another two in a Christmas Day loss to Minnesota .
"Muhammad played really well," general manager Brad Holmes said in January.
Now, he's reaping the fruits of his labor by earning a hefty pay raise.
The Lions lost two defensive starters Monday afternoon in the first few hours in free agency: linebacker Alex Anzalone to Tampa Bay and cornerback Amik Robertson to Washington .
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Al-Quadin Muhammad leaving Lions for Buccaneers after breakout season
