Lions Give Unhappy Defender $250K to Make Amends

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) talks to media members after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) talks to media members after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions are getting ready to open their preseason schedule when they battle the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, and the team is ready to avenge a 2024 season that ended with the best record in the NFC but a divisional round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

While Lions fans have impatiently waited to see their team return to the field, the road hasn’t been a smooth one. With Frank Ragnow’s retirement and the departure of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, Detroit has a lot to figure out before its Sept. 7 opener against the Green Bay Packers. But they made one step to resolve an offseason issue on Thursday by giving an unhappy defender a little extra cash for the upcoming season.

Lions Give LB Alex Anzalone a Raise for 2025 Season

Alex Anzalone created one of the biggest storylines of the offseason as he looked for a new contract from the Lions. While the 31-year-old didn’t get the long-term deal he was seeking, the Lions did their best to mend the fence, adding $250,000 to his $6 million base salary for the upcoming season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

The revision, which also includes incentives to increase his potential earnings in 2025, is a nice move for the Lions to keep one of their key defenders in the fold, but also prevents them from locking in to a long-term commitment.

Anzalone is entering the final year of a three-year, $18.75 million contract and has become one of Detroit’s leaders on defense. Last season was a glaring example of how much he means to the team as he returned from a broken forearm to help the Lions defeat the Minnesota Vikings in a crucial Week 18 matchup with the NFC North title and home-field advantage on the line.

But Anzalone’s toughness wasn’t rewarded with a long-term deal. The Lions opted to extend fellow linebacker Derrick Barnes to a three-year, $25.5 million contract this offseason, and with 2023 first-round pick Jack Campbell due for a raise as soon as next offseason, Brad Holmes wanted to get cheaper and save his resources for the next wave of Detroit’s defense.

That triggered a holdout that saw Anzalone skip voluntary OTA workouts this offseason. While he reported to training camp on time, he didn’t practice right away due to a hamstring injury. But he has recently joined the team as the preseason opener draws near. 

While he didn’t get what he wanted, Anzalone now has a chance to earn some extra money this year and a chance to audition for a final contract. Whether that be with the Lions or someone else remains to be seen, but it’s a suitable solution to a storyline that lingered this offseason.

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