Al-Quadin Muhammad, One Free Agent The Detroit Lions Can’t Afford To Lose
One of the biggest challenges Brad Holmes faces this off-season is improving the Lions’ roster with a stretched-to-the-limit salary cap. Detroit has 48 free agents in 2026 , and with the salary cap constraints, this limits the number of players the team can re-sign. Players who make a significant contribution must be prioritized. One player the team must re-sign is EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad . After posting a career-best season with 25 tackles (15 solo), 11.0 sacks, and 53 pressures, he made it known he’s looking to get paid in 2026.
According to Overthecap.com, Detroit is projected to exceed the team’s salary cap by more than $8 million. Unfortunately, that budget overrun could mean the team can’t afford Muhammad, and he’s doomed to become a cap casualty. However, now there’s reason for hope amid an increasing likelihood the Lions might be able to retain him.
Navigating A Bloated Salary Cap
Historically, Holmes has managed Detroit’s salary cap very successfully, prioritizing in-house extensions while filling roster gaps with low-cost free agent acquisitions signed to one-year contracts. The delicate balancing act of retaining free agent talent and foundational team members must be weighed against the cost of acquiring comparably cheaper outside talent.
Navigating this year’s salary cap will be Holmes’ biggest challenge to date. In addition to retaining free agent talent, Jahmyr Gibbs , Jack Campbell , Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch are on the docket for high-cost extensions this year. The projected 2026 cost of extending all four premier players could exceed $71 million. That’s a major hit to a 2026 roster that’s already projected to exceed $300 million. But hopefully, those extensions can be structured to minimize the impact this year, with the majority of dollars hitting in future years.
Meanwhile, last week, the NFL gave teams with strapped budgets reason for hope. The league is projecting a salary cap increase from $279.2 million to a range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million per club in 2026. The increase gives the Lions a bit more wiggle room to negotiate with Muhammad.
Why the Lions Retaining Muhammad Is a Priority
Fans have been clamoring for Holmes to sign a top free agent EDGE to play alongside Aidan Hutchinson, but he may already be in-house. Muhammad proved to be a strong complementary partner to Hutchinson, and both players excelled, each ranking in the NFL’s Top 10 in sacks.
“I think I got an opportunity to just show other teams in this league that I can play at a high level,” Muhammad said. “It’s a testament to the way I work, what I stand for, and who I am as a player.”
While re-signing Muhammad won’t come cheap, his age (almost 31) could work against him if he’s seeking a multi-year contract. However, Detroit would retain a proven veteran whose performance has only gotten better with age and experience. “I hope this team values me, and I will go where I’m valued, to be honest. I would love to be back here, but you ultimately go where you’re valued.”
The Magic of Salary Cap Math
Not every player currently listed on the roster will be retained. Nonetheless, even with the NFL salary cap increase, the Lions remain perilously close to the edge. There’s bound to be attrition for a variety of reasons. Players, including Taylor Decker or Graham Glasgow, could be lost to retirement.
Others, who failed to achieve performance targets, will be cut. Although the team will undoubtedly absorb a dead money hit, the remaining budgeted salary frees up additional dollars.
Another way to create cap space is by restructuring existing contracts. Jared Goff and Alim McNeill enter 2026 with huge salary cap hits. Restructuring their contracts through option bonuses and performance-based incentives could free up money to be used elsewhere.
Last year, the Lions added a contract sweetener to LB Alex Anzalone’s contract. While he didn’t get the extension he sought, Anzalone maximized his contract enhancement with an exceptional 2025 performance. He recorded 95 tackles (52 solo), 2.5 sacks, 12 pressures, nine pass defenses, and one interception. Playing over 1,000 snaps in 16 games, Anzalone posted 44 stops and ranked 11th in the league with only seven missed tackles. He’s another valued free agent the Lions need to retain.
The Advantages of Re-signing Free Agent Talent
The question becomes, can Holmes accomplish more with proven in-house players? Or by acquiring low-cost outside talent? While fans begged Holmes to go after a premier free agent EDGE, such as the Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, his anticipated price puts him out of reach.
Instead, there are numerous advantages to working with in-house athletes. There’s no learning curve. They know the playbook and the system. In the case of Muhammad, he and Hutchinson developed a keen understanding of how to maximize their dual impact. It’s unusual to find that kind of synchronicity and chemistry.
Holmes prefers to build the roster with inexpensive rookie talent and develop them in-house. Even the most highly ranked EDGE prospects have a learning curve as they transition from college to the NFL. The Lions already have Ahmed Hassanein as an EDGE in development. Drafting another EDGE as a developmental project may not be the best use of the team’s resources.
If the Lions were to draft a highly skilled prospect like Keldric Faulk , he would still need time to learn the playbook and develop the kind of understanding and communication Hutchinson already has with Muhammad. Veteran players have a vested commitment to the team’s success. They’re respected locker room leaders. They’ve been through the hard times and fought the battles.
Can the Lions acquire less expensive talent? Probably. Can they acquire comparable low-cost talent? Unlikely. The question then becomes, can the Lions afford not to re-sign Muhammad? The answer: Even at a higher cost, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.