The clock is ticking down to the start of NFL free agency next week, and those around the Motor City are wondering what the immediate future holds for Detroit Lions pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. The veteran disruptor is one of the Lions' many pending unrestricted free agents, and an unfavorable cap situation will make it tough for general manager Brad Holmes to keep Muhammad in town.
With OverTheCap listing the Lions as being $6.7 million north of the spending limit, a re-signing was always going to be an uphill battle. That's especially true as Spotrac projects Muhammad's next contract to be in the neighborhood of $15.7 million across two years ($7.9 million average salary).
Dealing with their cap situation was already one obstacle; now the Lions' hopes of re-signing Muhammad could be even harder after Maxx Crosby was traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens on Friday.
Lions Could Face More Competition for Al-Quadin Muhammad After Maxx Crosby Trade
For teams looking to upgrade their pass rush this offseason, Crosby was often the No. 1 target on most wishlists. Now that the five-time Pro Bowl EDGE is off the trade block and in the Ravens' hands, pass rush-hungry teams will look toward the available options in free agency, including Muhammad.
After a relatively quiet debut season with the Lions in 2024, the former Miami (FL) defender took his game to new heights last season.
Without missing a game, Muhammad racked up 15 solo tackles and a career-high 11.0 sacks across 457 defensive snaps. His 53 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, were more than he had in the two previous seasons combined (43) despite playing 109 fewer snaps than he did during that stretch (462).
Muhammad's production was consistent throughout the year, recording three or more pressures in 10 of his games. For comparison, he only recorded one or zero six times. That consistency will likely garner him some attention as soon as the free agent tampering period opens on Monday.
As great as it'd be to run things back with Muhammad, the Lions can only do so if the price is right. There's a good chance that teams will be willing to overpay for pass-rushing help now that Crosby has been traded, and the last thing Detroit needs is to waste time in a bidding war when it still has to address its offensive line, secondary, and No. 2 running back position.
That doesn't mean the Lions should ignore the pass rush. It just means that Holmes & Co. must be realistic about what they can do, so they might be better off addressing the unit with a cheaper veteran signing or through the 2026 NFL draft next month.
With that in mind, the possibility of Muhammad staying in Detroit seems to grow slimmer with each passing day. There's still a chance that he could remain a Lion on a team-friendly deal; however, that might require a negotiating masterclass from Holmes to get the job done.