The Detroit Lions are already looking ahead to the offseason after wrapping up the 2025 season with a 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Lions will not be in the playoffs for the first time since 2022, which means an earlier start to the offseason. That isn’t a bad thing, considering how this season played out. One of the first items on Detroit’s offseason checklist is handing out futures deals to practice squad players.
When practice squad players get a futures deal, it allows them to compete for a roster spot in the offseason. One of the players who received this illustrious deal was rookie pass rusher Ahmed Hassanein.
Hassanein instantly became a fan favorite among Lions fans during rookie minicamp and at the start of the preseason. However, he suffered a pectoral injury in late August, which forced the Lions to waive him with an injury settlement.
Even though he was injured, the Lions still kept tabs on the sixth-round pick, as they re-signed him to the practice squad in November. Hassanein didn’t get elevated to the Lions’ active roster, but getting him back in the building was important. And the hope is that the young pass rusher can become an instant contributor on the defensive line in 2026.
Lions Gift Ahmed Hassanein Another Chance to Prove Himself in 2026
As things stand, the Lions’ pass rush depth is in a state of flux going into the offseason. Outside of Aidan Hutchinson, there are a lot of question marks on who will or will not be back in the Motor City.
Veteran defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad is scheduled to be a free agent after a monster 2025 season, posting a career-high 26 quarterback pressures, 20 quarterback hits, 11 sacks, and nine tackles for loss.
And then there’s Marcus Davenport, who struggled to stay healthy in his two seasons with the Lions. In a perfect world, Detroit fans would love to have Muhammad back on a multi-year deal, while Hassanein takes Davenport’s snaps.
Luckily for Lions fans, that isn’t impossible to think about, as Hassanein flashed in the preseason and will only get better heading into another training camp with the club. If he proves himself, he’ll find his way onto the field.
At the same time, this cannot be the only move that Detroit makes this offseason. They must find other ways to bolster their pass-rushing draft, whether that be in free agency or the 2026 NFL draft. Bringing back Hassanein on a futures deal is a nice start, but there needs to be more young pass rushers added to this group.