Of all the losses the Detroit Lions have had to deal with in free agency, Alex Anzalone's may have stung the most. Not because he's the best player leaving, but because Anzalone was a team captain and locker-room leader, which can't be replaced with the flick of a wrist.
The veteran linebacker is now heading south. Anzalone took his talents to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, logging a two-year, $17 million deal to be the quarterback of Todd Bowles' usually solid defensive front. However, even if the former Lion does well, his new team might cause him to regret his decision.
Alex Anzalone Will Learn Signing with Bucs was a Mistake
Anzalone had a simple reason to sign with the Buccaneers, even though other teams reportedly offered him more money: He wanted to return to Florida, where he played collegiate football. As a former Gator, this was a homecoming of sorts for the 10-year veteran.
While that makes perfect sense, Anzalone may have chosen the worst possible time to jump ship. The Lions are going to have a fourth-place schedule next season, as they own the sixth-easiest slate based on 2025 win percentage, according to Bills Wire's Nick Wojton.
With a new offensive coordinator and most of the core returning, Detroit should be back to the mountaintop as one of the teams to beat in the NFC.
The Buccaneers, on the other hand, may not do that well. They lost star WR Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield's primary target, and rookie Emeka Egbuka fell from grace after a strong start to his career. To add insult to injury, Chris Godwin is aging and constantly banged up.
When it comes to their upcoming slate, the Bucs' 2026 schedule comes in as the 12th-easiest. Although that isn't daunting, it's still tougher than what the Lions have.
The Carolina Panthers have been one of the most aggressive teams in free agency, and they should be a legitimate threat to run away with the NFC South next season. The Atlanta Falcons will also have a new head coach, and while their quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. is far from exciting, they've had the Bucs' number in recent years.
Of course, the NFC North isn't going to be a cake-walk, and not having a high-volume tackle specialist like Anzalone will hurt. Last season alone, he had 95 tackles, six quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Then again, the Lions have enough resources to get by in his absence.
Anzalone will always be a fan favorite. He left it all on the field on every down, and his physicality and veteran leadership often came in handy. Unfortunately, he may learn the hard way that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, even if it's closer to home.