The Mystery Of Al-Quadin Muhammad
March 13th, 2026
New Bucs OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad
Look, Joe is happy the Bucs signed a dude who had double-digit sacks last year. A little stunned this happened, actually.
But peeling away the onion skins, there are all sorts of reasons to wonder if Al-Quadin Muhammad is that guy, or if last year was a total fluke.
Muhammad racked up 11 sacks. He never started one game last year. Pretty impressive, yes. But if he turned into this sack monster, why did Lions coach Dan Campbell and Muhammad’s defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers not start him?
And how many of those sacks were indirectly due to teams shifting so much coverage to Aiden Hutchinson, who by the way, had more than double the sacks last year (14.5) than YaYa Diaby (7).
Muhammad, drafted in 2017, never had more than six sacks until last year, a contract year. So at the age of 30, Muhammad finally got it all figured out? Weird that it would happen when a guy turns 30.
Look, if this Muhammad can get six sacks, that’s six times more than what Chris Braswell had last year.
Would Joe love for Muhammad to duplicate what he did last year with the Bucs ? You damn right.
And Joe figures that Bucs coach Todd Bowles got good intel on Muhammad not just from new inside linebacker Alex Anzalone, who played in Detroit last year, but Bowles also got good intel from two of his closest friends, Campbell and Rodgers.
Of course, one could also ask if Muhammad really was this good, why did the Lions let Muhammad escape from Detroit?
March 13th, 2026 at 9:02 am
It looks like his time to the QB did not really improve last season.
So, he looks like he will continue to be a pressure guy and not a sack guy. Last year was the outlier.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Tell him to bring along Aiden Hutchinson.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:05 am
If he gets just 6, I’m on board with him
March 13th, 2026 at 9:08 am
He’s Logan Hall’s replacement – that’s all.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Did he have more than Reddick braswell and Nelson combined ?
March 13th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Here is one that is favorable:
2025: His 15.4% win rate ranked 25th out of 121 eligible edge rushers.
Career: Before last year, he rarely cracked the top 60. He essentially doubled his efficiency in terms of how quickly he shed blocks.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:16 am
Here’s the deal: Detroit runs 4-3, Tampa 3-4; Success in 4-3 doesn’t always equate to success in a 3-4
March 13th, 2026 at 9:22 am
The sales pitch on this guy was “look, if you have 2 years of double digit sacks, you are going to get bank….ala Trey H” Let’s go get that paycheck son!!!
March 13th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Another solid, low cost addition by JL.
While everyone wanted to over pay for one of the few edge rushers available, none came without question marks. Hendrickson (age/injury/cost/length of contract). Phillips (cost/production) had 5 sacks with 2 teams last year, 1 sack in 2024 then injured..never reached double digits in his career. Yaya lite.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:28 am
JAG
March 13th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Good signing for the money.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Shaq Barrett only had 14 sacks in 4 seasons with Denver
He broke out with 19.5 sacks in his first season here
He had 37.5 sacks in his first 3 seasons with us
March 13th, 2026 at 9:30 am
No, he is replacing Hasaan Reddick. Hard NOT to be better!
March 13th, 2026 at 9:35 am
Ok did some snooping around Lions sites and THEY ARE PISSED at how cheap the Bucs got him to sign for!! They call Muhammad AQM for short and he is looked at as a situational pass rusher that is IFFY against the run, I’m sure age had a lot to do with it,and people pointed out the coaching staff in Detroit seem to be stuck on a vision of a CERTAIN TYPE of player they prefer opposite Aiden Hutchinson so the Lions dragged their feet in Free Agency so from the Bucs position I think it was a good move to bridge the team until the new draft pick rushers we select get their feet wet – I LIkE IT🚩🏴☠️🚩
March 13th, 2026 at 9:35 am
Trey Hendrickson had 20 sacks in his 4 seasons with New Orleans
He went to Cincinnati, had 57 sacks in his first 4 seasons there
We don’t know how these guys will perform
But one thing we do know
He can’t get any worse than what we got
March 13th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Can we get a podcast today 🙂
March 13th, 2026 at 9:38 am
Of course, one could also ask if Muhammad really was this good, why did the Lions let Muhammad escape from Detroit?
The Bucs let Michael Bennett go for no good reason. It happens.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:38 am
Hall doesn’t play defensive end.
A’Shawn Robinson is more of the replacement for Hall.
Maybe Muhammad ends up being this seasons Shaq Barrett. Would be pleased with a lot less though. If he and Yaya can start, Walker gets healthy and we can draft a OLB/edge player pretty early in this draft, who knows what kind of pass rush we could end up with. Very different from last seasons for sure. Especially if we can finally draft an edge rusher that ends up being like a Jared Verse, who is pretty good right out of the gate. That’s never happened for us since like Leroy Selmon. Wouldn’t be necessary, possibly, but would be a nice bonus. We’re due!
The purposely didn’t use the word “hope” anywhere in that post. LOL
March 13th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Al-Quadin Muhammad 11
Haason Reddick 2.5
Anthony Nelson 3.0
Chris Braswell 1
Total: 6.5
Muhammad nearly doubled the sack total of three Bucs edge rushers combined.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Well Joe in my opinion he is a rotational player. Once again they are proving ME correct trying to get average players on short term contracts and hope they become Shag. So I guess they are going to draft and edge rusher in the draft. Well we already know how that is going to turn out. Man sorry to be so negative but it appears Mike had it right. You would have hoped they learned their lesson and really tried to improve the team, but sorry they are maintaining a philosophy that caused Mike to say bye and and leave the team with a pathetic defense. These are sad Bucs days. Yes very hard to be a fan.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:41 am
I’m going to take a guess that Muhammad Is a major upgrade over Braswell and Reddick in one key area: attitude. Both those guys seemed half hearted often last season. I’ll always remember in the loss at Carolina, Bryce Young took a knee to end the game and his former college teammate Braswell was the first guy to congratulate him on the win. He seemed more like a spectator than a player in that moment. Welcome to a Tampa Mr Muhammad. Please be sure to welcome as many opposing QBs while you are here.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Coconut Doghnut:
First, love the handle.
Second, a pod was recorded last night. It’s in the production process. So, maybe.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:43 am
“Shaq Barrett only had 14 sacks in 4 seasons with Denver
He broke out with 19.5 sacks in his first season here
He had 37.5 sacks in his first 3 seasons with us”
All off technique too. Shaq wasn’t some other-worldly athlete, but what he did have was a deep pass rush move skill set and knew how to work the hell out of his matchups, while winning with quickness and leverage.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:44 am
I actually like the signing I won’t complain about a guys getting double digit sacks lol if he gets 8 we are having a parade in st Pete lol front seven got better add another rusher in the draft then something might be cooking
March 13th, 2026 at 9:45 am
The Bucs finished 2-7 last year.
They’re replacing coaches and players like they should.
Fans need to be patient.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:46 am
New Orleans thought Trey Hendrickson was a ( one hit wonder)
He jumped from 6.5 sacks in 3 seasons to 13.5 sacks in one season
New Orleans let him walk, I’m sure they regretted it
March 13th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Well that was probably his career year. I think he came to town because Todd says he can turn into coverage end and before long he will be able to cover Bijan down the field on fly patterns
March 13th, 2026 at 9:49 am
This years runs DEEP at Edge Rusher I can see the Bucs rounds 1-3 double dipping at Edge & LBer maybe they moved back up in the 3rd so they can double dipping at LBer
March 13th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Could it be because of cap space money that forced Detroit to let him be expendable? You can’t sign everybody. It’s how Roger Goddell set up the pay structure- give every team the opportunity to make the playoffs.
However the dysfunctional teams like the Jets and some others will never change because that’s who they..
March 13th, 2026 at 9:54 am
How can anyone in their right mind be upset or disappointed by this signing?
Solid vet edge rusher for $6M.
Get real people – the Bucs just found another diamond in the rough…
March 13th, 2026 at 9:57 am
He was playing opposite of Hutchinson, enough said.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:58 am
“Could it be because of cap space money that forced Detroit to let him be expendable?”
They extended Hutchinson last year for like $180M, w/>$140M guaranteed or something close too it. IDK Detroits’ cap situation off the top of my head, but I could imagine they’ve come close to the spending limit for that room. They’ll be looking in the draft just like us and about a third of the league.
March 13th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Now Licht just needs to sign a 31 yr. old CB and a couple of 31 yr. old O-lineman and we’ll be all set.
March 13th, 2026 at 10:00 am
I’m sure Bowles told him to prepare to drop back and cover TEs and RBs. Because Todd wants him to become a BALLHAWK. lol
March 13th, 2026 at 10:01 am
“He was playing opposite of Hutchinson, enough said.”
Has jack nothing to do with anything
I’ve seen this a few times in attempts to “explaining” how AQM got 11 sacks
You know how much space, people, and opportunity there is sandwiched between 2 edge rushers?
best you can do is chip Hutch with a TE/RB, but then 4 other players on the opposite side, that just means AQM was winning 1 on 1
That’s kind of WHAT WE NEED lololololol
March 13th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Minimum 6, Max 11 = improvement
March 13th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Muhammad had 6 sacks with Indianapolis
He can get sacks without playing next to Hutch
How often do these Bucs Edge Rushers get 6 sacks in a season
Other than Yaya, it’s unheard of here
Bottom Line
This is a great signing by Licht
March 13th, 2026 at 10:12 am
I like him because he doesn’t necessarily fit the traditional good boy group. Might be what the defense needs. Somebody to drop f- bombs so the coach don’t have to.
March 13th, 2026 at 10:12 am
He got a lot of pressure as a defensive end. I hope they use him for that rather than drop him into coverage 80+ times like they did with Reddick
March 13th, 2026 at 10:13 am
I’ll admit, things are starting to look better on defense but our issue is still QUALITY DEPTH!!!!….
i think the defense will improve because players and coaches on that side of the ball have a ton to prove….
but everything goes down the drain (again) if we have 1 injury to the OL and we cant protect baker or rely on the run game….
JL please trade down a few spots, collect and extra pick or 2 and draft OG in the 1st round!!!!….
Mauch is still healing and most likely wont be ready to go for TC or PS…plus he’ll be a FA after the season….dont wait until he’s gone to fill the hole!!!!….
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 13th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Muhammad is a tough guy
He plays with an attitude, a mean, nasty, aggressive player
I think last season was a season he just got it all together
He’s always had the talent, from his high school days at Bosco high
He had disciplinary problems with the Canes in Miami
A few seasons long suspensions
But, he’s a good football player
I love his style of player, he’s not soft, he’s tough
March 13th, 2026 at 10:27 am
I think we are reshaping the attitude of this squad. Id rather have a hungry older player who has bounce around for a few years and had to grind, as opposed to some hot shot player trying to land a megadeal. I bet AQM gets more sacks than guys like Chubb who made triple the salary
March 13th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Tom Edrington Says:
March 13th, 2026 at 9:16 am
Here’s the deal: Detroit runs 4-3, Tampa 3-4; Success in 4-3 doesn’t always equate to success in a 3-4
Nutshell