Veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone has been public about his desire for an extension with the Lions, but contract talks are not trending toward a deal, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Last week, Anzalone expressed his disappointment regarding the team’s apparent lack of interest in extending him That was followed by a reassurance from head coach Dan Campbell that negotiations were still ongoing.
Anzalone missed the first few practices of training camp due to a hamstring injury, but returned to the field on Monday with no thought of holding out. The eight-year veteran is entering the final year of a three-year deal extension signed in 2023 after leading the Lions defense with 125 tackles the season prior. He seems poised to play out his contract and hit free agency where an uncertain market awaits him.
Though he’s a respected player, Anzalone does not have the resume as Bobby Wagner or Lavonte David, who were both re-signed by their teams for $9MM this offseason. He’s also entering his age-32 season, which may make it difficult to get a multi-year deal.
The Lions have $48M in cap space, per OverTheCap, but they will want to roll as much of that as possible into 2026, when a hefty bill awaits. If Anzalone still wants to finish his career in Detroit after this season, he may need to take a below-market deal.
Why would they. He is a replacement level player.
That’s not what that term means. Replacement level means the kind of bottom of the roster player who’s pretty much interchangeable in quality from guys you can find with little effort at any given time. Anzalone isn’t a star, but he’s a solid starter who’s played the vast majority of the defensive snaps since he got to Detroit. I don’t know why you think there’s no middle ground between elite players and replacement level players, but it’s not how the NFL works.
Fine, slightly above replacement level player.
The money could go much further on that team elsewhere and not to an off ball LB.
Chargers spent a 3rd in 2022 for Daiyan Henley and in his 2nd season he had a much better season on a rookie deal than any season Anz has put together so far.
Dorian Williams for the Bills similar bit not as good as Henley but still Anz level production on a rookie deal.
Anz is on a 3/18, not a a bad deal where he is at, but also not worth deals where other off ball LB are getting even in the lower tiers when you can draft a 3rd rounder and get similar production in year 2.
Henley might be a top ten off ball linebacker this year. Anzalone has played at least 87% of the snaps over games he’s been available every year he’s been on the Lions and he’s been solidly good. That’s much better than a replacement level player. A solid rotational piece is notably better than replacement level. I get that he might not be where the Lions want to expend their resources, but that doesn’t make him close to replacement level. He’s a top 50 off ball linebacker in football. Being replaceable with a third round pick that works out well is far from what replacement level means.
Lions gotta let some of these guys walk because a lot of better players they will want to keep have to get paid by next offseason.
Sucks, but nature of the business w the salary cap.
They are at least $30M in the red for 2026 Cap Space and that is assuming a 10% increase in the cap for 2026.
There is still a Hutch Extension and a Guaranteed $15M on 5th year option for Williams waiting in the wings.
Lions fans don’t yet understand that they are on the downside of a successful window. This is just one example of what they are going to see more and more of. Without an elite QB, NFL windows are 3-4 years max.
Because he’s the leader of the defense and they don’t have another one yet? Because Rodriguez is coming off an injury himself and won’t be available to start the year, and hasn’t yet shown that he’s the leader of the defense in the middle?
The Lions don’t need to give Anzalone a top level deal, but until they get a replacement defensive leader, it’s not a bad idea to consider a short term contract extension. Let them find a successor before ditching Andslone, while they’re still on the upswing. It’s not like he’s going to be expensive.
Need to save money for the Hutchinson Extension still, unfortunately for that to happen you got to make sacrifices.
Hopefully Malcolm Rodriguez can step up after he rehabs his injury and can replace Alex, with Campbell being a solid starting duo, or we’ll see if there are moves in next years draft.