After five years in Detroit, linebacker Alex Anzalone left the Lions this offseason and took a two-year, $17MM deal with the Buccaneers. He could have earned more elsewhere, but his existing connection to Tampa Bay made it an easy decision.
“It actually means something to play in Tampa.” Anzalone told NFL insider Jordan Schultz this month. He and his wife already have a house in the area where they are raising their children, so signing with the Buccaneers was a homecoming of sorts.
Anzalone also expressed excitement about playing in Todd Bowles‘ defense, calling it a “perfect fit.” He has spent most of his career playing under coaches who served with or under Bowles at some point in his career. That list that includes both Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn.
The 31-year-old linebacker’s experience will be crucial. He has big shoes to fill following franchise legend Lavonte David‘s retirement this offseason after 14 years in Tampa Bay. Anzalone will start next to SirVocea Dennis, though the Buccaneers could stand to add a young linebacker to develop next to Anzalone in the draft.
While money was not the primary motivator behind Anzalone’s arrival in Tampa Bay, it was the driving force of his exit from Detroit. He sought a raise heading into 2025, a contract year but did not receive one, an indicator that the Lions were not planning to sign him to another deal.
“It literally just came down to finances and what [the Lions] could and couldn’t afford,” Anzalone said. “It’s the nature of the beast. It’s the business. Their front office made decisions of where they wanted to invest money, and it wasn’t in me, and it is what it is.”
Anzalone earned just over $24MM during his five seasons in Detroit. That is a relatively small sum for a veteran starter on a defense that ranked among the best in the league multiple times. In Tampa Bay, he will make about two-thirds of that amount in just two years.