The Detroit Lions have watched several players leave town this offseason. One of those names was edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal that's worth up to $6 million.
At first, that looked like a smart move, since the Bucs were tied for 26th in team sacks (37) last season and were looking to improve. But after the draft, Muhammad's path to being a starter took a huge hit. With the No. 15 overall pick, Tampa Bay took edge Rueben Bain Jr., and he'll be a day 1 starter for this team.
Now going into the 2026 season, it appears that Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby will be the starters at edge for the Bucs. And that forces Muhammad into an edge 3 role, which isn't ideal since he's coming off a career year with the Lions.
Former Lions Edge Al-Quadin Muhammad Could Be Regretting His FA Decision
It appears Muhammad never received an offer from Detroit, likely due to the price tag he was set to earn. But looking at how the depth chart is taking shape with the Buccaneers, he may have been better off returning to Detroit.
In 2025, he had a breakout campaign with the Lions. He posted career-highs in sacks (11), QB hits (20), and total pressures (53). And playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson only made his life easier. If he decided to come back to Detroit, he could have had a chance to build off this campaign. Once he left, they signed DJ Wonnum to a one-year, $3 million deal that can also get up to $6 million. The money is basically identical and shows that Muhammad didn't get a raise in Tampa Bay.
Meanwhile, the Lions did take Derrick Moore in the 2nd round, but he isn't as good a prospect as Bain Jr. is. The path to playing time would be easier for Muhammad in Detroit, especially in a system in which he played his best.
Moore is coming off his best collegiate campaign, showing he's effective against the run and pass. The Lions are excited to have him in the building, but some people were shocked they selected him over the likes of Zion Young and Gabe Jacas. The Athletic's Dane Brugler gave Moore a third-round grade, yet the Lions took him a round earlier. Of course, perspective matters, and this is not an end-all, be-all.
At the same time, Bain Jr. is much further along and is set to make an impact on day 1. And with Diaby set to start on the other side, Muhammad has his work cut out to get consistent playing time. That may not have been the case in the Motor City, but with everything behind them, Muhammad has to live with his decision and hope it doesn't backfire on him.
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