Over the weekend, the Detroit Lions and the other 31 teams were informed that the salary cap for the 2026 season is projected to increase between $22 million and $26.5 million. This is good news for the Lions, who have several key free agents that they would like to bring back to the Motor City next season.
According to OverTheCap, Detroit is projected to be $7.6 million over the cap, meaning that general manager Brad Holmes will need to make a few adjustments, especially if they want to bring back veteran pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad.
The 30-year-old Muhammad had a breakout 2025 season playing alongside Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit fans were hoping that Marcus Davenport would take that leap this season, but instead it was Muhammad.
Muhammad racked up career-highs across the board with 26 pressures, 20 quarterback hits, 11 sacks, and nine tackles for loss. The veteran pass rusher was just what the Lions needed, given the state of their pass rush in 2025.
Muhammad’s performance on the field has likely set him up for a big payday in free agency, which he could get from another team with the salary cap rising.
Lions Not Guaranteed to Retain Al-Quadin Muhammad in Free Agency
According to Spotrac, the 30-year-old defender’s market value is a two-year, $15.7 million deal with an average annual salary of $7.9 million. Most Lions fans would sign up for that deal in a heartbeat. That's only a projection, though, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a deal potentially of $10M per year or higher.
Therefore, would GM Holmes consider going north of $10 million per year to keep Muhammad? It’s a good question to ponder, as the Lions have to get multiple guys to fill out their depth on the edge this offseason.
Detroit can’t depend on Muhammad to have another breakout year, even though fans would like that at the right price. The Lions will have to worry about teams such as the New York Jets, who have the cap space and need to go after Muhammad. Not to mention, there’s the Aaron Glenn connection, too.
There’s also the Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, and Cincinnati Bengals, who could all throw their hat into the ring for more pass-rushing help. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out for the Lions and Muhammad.
While they would love to keep him, they have to think about what’s best for the franchise. At 31 years old, when the 2026 season kicks off, would Muhammad be better at a $10 million per year price tag or having two guys possibly under 30 at that age for more depth? That question will be answered in the coming weeks.