The Detroit Lions are staring down a critical offseason, with a crowded list of free agents and a tight salary cap. One of the more intriguing decisions looming is what to do with edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, who’s coming off a breakout season at just the right time-for him, at least.
Muhammad signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal with Detroit in 2025 and turned that into the most productive campaign of his seven-year NFL career. Lining up opposite Aidan Hutchinson, Muhammad racked up 11.0 sacks and 15 solo tackles across 17 games. For a player many viewed as a depth piece when he arrived in October 2024, that kind of production was a pleasant surprise-and a serious bargain.
But now comes the hard part.
Muhammad is set to hit the open market again, and based on his recent comments, he’s not looking to take a hometown discount. “I hope this team values me, and I will go where I’m valued at,” he said. “I would love to be back here, but you ultimately go where you’re valued.”
That’s a pretty clear signal: he’s looking to cash in. And with Detroit currently projected to be $8.26 million over the cap, re-signing Muhammad to a lucrative deal could be a tough ask-especially with 20 unrestricted free agents to consider this offseason.
Now, on the surface, letting a guy walk after an 11-sack season sounds like a mistake. The Lions don’t have a clear answer behind Hutchinson, and Muhammad gave them real juice off the edge. But dig a little deeper, and the picture gets a bit more complicated.
Before 2025, Muhammad had just 15 career sacks. And even last season, his production came in streaks-7.5 of his 11 sacks came in just three games (against the Vikings, Cowboys, and Ravens). That’s nearly 70% of his season total packed into less than 20% of the schedule.
There’s also the matter of Detroit’s overall pass rush. Yes, they tied for fourth in the league with 49 sacks, but their average time to pressure-2.92 seconds-was the slowest in the NFL.
Translation: they were getting sacks, but not quickly. Quarterbacks had more time to operate against this defense than any other in the league, which is a red flag for sustainability.
Muhammad’s role also adds context. He played just over 41% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2025 and is primarily a pass-rush specialist-not someone you lean on in run defense or in every down situations. He’ll turn 31 this offseason, and asking him to replicate or exceed last year’s output might be a gamble the Lions can’t afford.
That’s why Detroit might be better off letting him walk. Not because Muhammad didn’t deliver-he did-but because the cost to keep him might outweigh the value he brings moving forward. If another team is willing to pay him based on his 2025 numbers, the Lions could benefit from a compensatory draft pick in return, likely in the mid-to-late rounds.
That’s not nothing. In fact, it could be the kind of savvy, long-view decision that helps Detroit stay competitive while managing the cap.
Use that pick-or the cap space freed up-to find a younger, more versatile edge rusher through the draft or free agency. Someone who can grow into a bigger role alongside Hutchinson and give the Lions a more balanced pass rush over the long haul.
Muhammad’s story in Detroit has been a good one. He came in midseason, made an immediate impact, and proved he still has something left in the tank.
But the Lions have to think beyond 2025. They’re building toward sustained success, and that means making tough choices-even when it means letting go of a player who just had a career year.
In the end, Muhammad will likely get paid-and he’s earned that. But Detroit doesn’t need to be the team writing that check.