Is The Answer At One Buc Palace Today?
March 12th, 2026
Free agent edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad.
The Bucs need an edge rusher worse than … ah, Joe’s tired of typing about cold beer and a hot Florida Friday afternoon. But you get the drill, the Bucs need an edge rusher in the worst way.
Faced with the new reality that top-shelf free agents may no longer consider the Bucs a serious postseason contender, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager must now either overpay for a free agent (an offer he can’t refuse) or go dumpster diving.
This Al-Quadin Muhammad isn’t dumpster diving. He had never been more than a JAG (just a guy). Drafted in 2017 and now just days from his 31st birthday, Muhammad never had more than six sacks in a season in his career — until last year when he racked up 11 for the Lions. In a contract year (ahem).
From Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Muhammad is visiting One Buc Palace today.
What changed for Muhammad in 2025? Was it playing opposite Aiden Hutchinson? Did Kacy Rodgers break out some sort of magic wand (unlikely)? Is Dan Campbell that good (maybe)?
The fact that a guy finally broke out at age 30 as a part-time pass rusher is, well, strange.
At least with Muhammad, the Bucs will have good intel. Bucs coach Todd Bowles is tight with Campbell and Rodgers.
Would Muhammad be an upgrade on Chris Braswell? Well, yeah, sure. But the fact this guy survived two days of legal tampering and going on two days of free agency sort of tells a story.
Veteran DL Al-Quadin Muhammad is visiting the Bucs, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2026
March 12th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
How is he in coverage?
March 12th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
This is the plan….5-7 sack guys at every position on the DL and pay them accordingly. Versus banking (in more ways than 1) on a 12 sack guy for a Brinks truck in hopes he produces AND doesn’t get injured.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Bowles can’t spell edge rusher.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
These guys that excel in contract years only always worry me. Well, he’s certainly an upgrade from our current options and could at least be platooned.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
Call us when he signs.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Maybe jts can break out…execute plan 9😂
March 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
But on 3rd and 28 can he drop back and cover?
We know he wont be rushing the QB on 3rd down anyway.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Bowles likes this guy and he plays edge rusher. That means he is going to be a bust. 5 sacks in 2026 season, and he has to cover RBs and and TEs like all other DL guys in Bowles system, watch.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
He may still be an 11 sack guy, but not on this team. Todd will have him down to a 5 or 6 sack guy. 11 will be career numbers for him if he comes here. He won’t have 11 if stays three years.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
We just lost izien to the lions…. 😒
March 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Izien just signed with Lions. Another big loss to our secondary. Our secondary is as thin as a piece of paper right now
March 12th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Career year. Ever heard of “regression to mean”? I guess he’s not worse than some of the other moves if you don’t overpay the guy. I’d rather get Vonn Miller for 6mill.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
“The fact that a guy finally broke out at age 30 is, well, strange.”
You want to know what’s awesome about this? Muhammed recorded those 11 sacks without starting 1 game for the Lions last year and only playing 457(47%) of their defensive snaps.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Jj roberts will take izien spot. Bucs were high on him last year
March 12th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
I have scanned all the comments and the elephant in the room being ignored is Baker Mayfield. A true franchise QB with one year left on his deal and no offer from the Bucs with all the other surrounding circumstances is a big signal. My only source for info is this site. I wonder what the talking heads are saying.
Here you go: https://www.joebucsfan.com/2026/02/jason-licht-on-baker-mayfield/ — Joe
March 12th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Should kick the tires on Greenlaw too. He was just released
March 12th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
But this is dumpster diving
March 12th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
They’ve tried to give Bowles players to develop…he can’t. So they have to try to buy them.
On a side note. Haason Reddick is still available.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
he’ll be a BUC…he is THAT MAN lol…another nice guy
GO BUCS!!!
March 12th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Slacker Says:
March 12th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Should kick the tires on Greenlaw too. He was just released
++++++++++++++++
When he plays he is great, but he is often injured. I watched every Broncos game last year, and they released him for a reason. So did the 49ers.
As far as Muhammed goes, why not? He is in the same neighborhood as Chubb. Better than paying someone in their 30’s $28 million.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
I’d be totally happy with this guy
March 12th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
11 sacks last year as a part time player? That’s great and all but how is he at dropping back in coverage? I’m sure that’s where we will see him.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
gbobucsfan Says:
March 12th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
This is the plan….5-7 sack guys at every position on the DL and pay them accordingly. Versus banking (in more ways than 1) on a 12 sack guy for a Brinks truck in hopes he produces AND doesn’t get injured.
——
Worked out for the Seahakws last season.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
At this point just get someone in here
March 12th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
I don’t really want to poo poo anything at this stage. They have holes and they all can’t be taken care of in the draft. With this guy not being signed yet, does Dan Campbell have to say a word?
March 12th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Can he fog a Mirror?
March 12th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
The fact that he broke out during a contract year? That’s what a lot of players do! Then once they have the check in hand they disappear again. I like to call they check cashers. You can find them everywhere!
March 12th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
Do it sign him he can only help
March 12th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Nutterbuccer Says:
March 12th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Jj roberts will take izien spot. Bucs were high on him last year
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yup – Roberts is a big improvement and will play on a rookie contract. That’s why Izien is gone.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Izien is gone but at least we are now keeping Tucker?! Are we experimenting with AI to manage a team or something? What in the actual f@ck is going on with this team.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
I smell another 1 year deal coming.
The Bowles exit strategy in full effect.
#SuperBowles
March 12th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
How much?
This guy would be an upgrade over anyone else we have except Diaby.
As long as we don’t overpay…
March 12th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Heck, 5 sacks would be an upgrade from last season. The bar is set so low. I’m good with this signing for the right price, but we still need to bring on someone else. We need to load the room with talent and have a fresh rotation for rushing the QB. And yes, we still need to draft one early(ier).
March 12th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Amazing
March 12th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Ok sign him already and draft one Rd 1
March 12th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
We need production, regardless of age. Rotation guy?
March 12th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Yes please sign him he’s Decent an draft one in Round 1 bring guys over from that lions Defense they got that Nastiness
March 12th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
He wouldn’t even sniff 10 sacks here as Bowles will have him dropping in coverage 50% of the time. Got to trick the other teams offense by dropping guys who couldn’t cover a tree.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
They would’ve tendered him if they wanted him bad enough. They could’ve had a Tucker-like last minute change and done so with time to spare. They like JJ Roberts’ potential better and he’s already under contract. Although I liked the Swiss Army knife in Izien, I ain’t gettin’ my panties in an uproar over this part of the “exodus”
Tbh, while I’m gonna miss Mike and watching him play, organizationally it was gonna happen in a year or 2 from now anyways. As they say, it’s better in this league and business-wise to part with a player a year too early, than a year too late. The fact he didn’t want to be here and chose to leave made that process easier. Which was inevitable. And it helps that we had what was considered a “loaded WR room after drafting EE”. If you’re gonna have to part with Mike, it’s not that bad of a situation and be could be way worse.
We still have talent in that WR room, Kenny G is an upgrade over White, Robinson over Hall, David wasn’t that great last season as much I hate saying that and you get a solidly decent ILB which might be a wash compared to David’s fall off last season and Father Time signs. So now how do we use that Mike Evans $ to improve this defense and the rest of the team. That’s more what I’m worried about than Izien or even Mike leaving. Love Mike, but that’s my honest opinion on the situation.
I also think Chris Godwin is a better leader overall too. Hot take I know. If you asked me who I’d rather have as a leader out of Mike & CG, I’m picking CG. The WR room is still in incredible leadership hands. CG might even be wearing a “C” on his chest next season. I think CG is the exact kind of person you want as that and a leader.
In less than a year, you’ve had our 2 star receivers take completely different paths. One came back for far less money, one left with the quickness for far less money. Wild time to be a Bucs fans folks.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
Now trade Braswell for a CB
March 12th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
3rd and 28
March 12th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
And no matter what the Bucs do here, we have no business not taking one as well Rd 1. None.
Unless the TE or Styles is there. Because Diaby, Mohammad, Rd1 pick, Walker, then Braswell is alot better of a rotation than the mess we rolled out last year to sleepwalk
March 12th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
….but you HAVE to get an edge rush with some of the money we have
You have to make sure you’re covering for your secondary back there and you do that with pass rush and edge rush and getting to the QB. This isn’t the legion of boom back there or enough of a formidable or proven secondary to not have an edge rush. When you’re going into the season looking at 2 unproven 2nd year players (albeit I love Parrish and am highly intrigued by Morrison) and a horrible year after a fat contract by Zyon as your top 3 corners and have no pash rush to help aid that. That’s a recipe for disaster. Double disaster.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Im still taking a chance with Greenlaw. Any snap that Dennis is off the field is a win for the defense
March 12th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Better than Reddick
March 12th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Hawaiian Buc Says:
How is he in coverage?
^^^^^^^^^^^
Love this as the first comment.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
I watch a lot of Lions football. Muhammad flourished even when Hutch was out injured or taking a blow. He’s also good against the run. It would be surprising he would leave a coach like DC for a coach like TB. We shall see. He can play.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Joe not a quote from Bowles today? whats up with that?
March 12th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
How is he defending the pass 30 yards downfield against a RB is the real question.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Can he cover Tetairoa tho lol
March 12th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Its a Bucs life. Headline of a visit is our FA Edge highlight.
If he leaves building without contract then that will be something
March 12th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Just re-sign Reddick, he is good for 2.5 sacks and Licht can get him for only $14M. Plus he has been working on his coverage skills in the off season.
Seriously, the free agent signing period has been going so bad for Licht , I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up signing Reddick. It would be the ultimate failure only Bowles and Licht pull off with a straight face. I would love to see Licht’s hype and gaslighting if they did re-sign Reddick.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
What about the cheerleaders? Have they all quit yet?
March 12th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Think we need to splash our faces with cold water……
How many times have the numerous national football pundits as well as readers on this website talked about guys over 30 dropping off…..
And now we’re talking about signing ANOTHER free agent guy over 30 for a defense that has more holes than my vegetable colander.
Not doing cartwheels over these guys.
Maybe – these are the only guys we can sign because free agents in their 20’s are saying no.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
hawaiian buc got me to laugh lol
March 12th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Hopefully this guy knows how absurd Todd’s defense is dropping back half the time.
March 12th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
I predicted 7-10, after evans departure, and the rest of this years predictable FA debacle I leaning towards a 5- 12 season, hey maybe a draft in the top 3-5 slots, bowels gone, embrace the suck
March 12th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Upgrade from Brasswell so sign him and keep looking for another.
March 12th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
So many pundits here… I’ve been watching football long enough to know that each new season is entirely unpredictable. We think we have a crap team? Let’s see what the results are. I am all for not overpaying free agents. Mike left but would have been gone in a couple of years regardless. How much better are we with him? I guess we’ll see. We’ve improved the linebacker room and we will make more moves in that area. If we sign Muhammad today will have improved a defensive line. Signing Robinson, yesterday was a nice below the radar. Move. D-line should be better. Linebackers should be better. Secondary? We shall see. Offense seems pretty well set. Gainwell is an outstanding receiver and a decent running back who’s always averaged over 4 yd of carry. With a healthy o-line and decent performance from our starters, nothing would surprise me. That’s glass half full. Seems like the vast majority of the posters are glass half empty. They know no more than I do. So we shall see.
March 12th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Question for Hawaiian Buc. Are you the original Hawaiian poster from the JW3 days?
March 12th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
He will just be dropped back into coverage 50% of the snaps he plays in this masterful defensive scheme the genius and mistro of defensive super brains Todd Bowles has planed for us this year. Answer me this if you can not do one job well why would a team owner keep you 1 and second why would they have you doing 2 jobs???? Someone tell the Glazers I’m asking for a friend.
I will renew my season passes whe Bowles is gone this year ill probably watch more 49ers football than the Bucs
March 12th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Here we go again banking on another guy about to turn 31 who balled out exactly one year because he was in a contract year
March 12th, 2026 at 4:40 pm
jcscycles … ‘Yup – Roberts is a big improvement and will play on a rookie contract. That’s why Izien is gone.’
They normally keep 5 Safeties. Winfield & Tykee Smith are givens, and they apparently really like JJ Roberts. They also have Josh Hayes, Marcus Banks & Rashad Wisdom under contract.
My guess is that Hayes is odd man out now. He got quite a few def snaps (265) in 2024, but ZERO in 2025. Plays a lot of S/Ts though. Wisdom went on IR 30 Sep last year (his 1st year as a Buc), and came off on 17 Dec; 3 total def snaps last season. Marcus Banks got 3 total def snaps last season also.
Not excited about any of those latter 3. Wish we’d kept Izien. Now we’re as deep at Safety (3) as we are at CB (3). Whooppee.
March 12th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
Going, going, GONE…Evans, White, Dean, Hall, Izian, …NEXT?
March 12th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
We just picked up another safety – Miles Killebrew from Pittsurg. Primarily a Special Teamer – holds a punt block record – but thats another one for the Safety room.
We might well draft one this year in later rounds. Once marginal players hit the end of their rookie contracts they tend to not get a team tender