The Winding Rise Of Al-Quadin Muhammad
March 23rd, 2026
Yeah, one could argue new Bucs edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad thrived and soared in a contract year with the Lions last season, but one could make a case Muhammad has been in a contract year ever since he was drafted in 2017.
A sixth-round draft pick of a good Saints team, Muhammad needed to make the Saints roster. He did, but he got waived the following summer.
Then Muhammad was claimed by the Colts but soon landed on their practice squad, which terminated his rookie contract. A year later in 2019, Muhammad was a solid contributor for Indianapolis and his 2020 campaign there was a contract year. Muhammad was a nothing-special backup that season but earned a one-year, $2.9 million contract for 2021.
In 2022, the Colts were done with Muhammad — not a happy parting of ways — and Muhammad signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Bears, but only one year was guaranteed. After that season’s Super Bowl, Muhammad was launched by Chicago.
In 2023, Muhammad was back on the Colts’ practice squad and then suspended in December for performance-enhancing drugs.
In 2024, teams didn’t want to touch Muhammad in free agency. Remaining suspension time likely was a factor. He landed with the Cowboys in August but that lasted four weeks. He was back again on the Lions practice squad and had a 3 sacks after getting to the active roster in November.
Is it easy to see now how Muhammad has always been a year-to-year player?
Last season, Muhammad got about 900,000 guaranteed to return to Detroit. He exploded with 11 sacks in part-time duty but only got a one-year deal in free agency from the Bucs. OverTheCap.com reported it’s $2.5 million guaranteed as part of a $4 million salary. Other reports said Muhammad can early another $2 million in incentives.
For fans who want to understand Muhammad, Joe recommends the GoLong.com feature on him last year. Reporter Tyler Dunne dives very deep and explains what drives Muhammad and why he considers himself “a sick fu*k.”
Dunne also talked to Lions defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, the former Todd Bowles confidant and Bucs defensive line coach (2019-2024).
Kacy Rodgers took over as the Lions’ defensive line coach last spring and was immediately impressed by Muhammad’s football IQ. That’s what allows him to stalk along the line, position to position, in search of a juicy mismatch. And when the ball’s snapped? He’s all gas, no brakes. Rodgers cites a play vs. Cincinnati in which Muhammad chased Jake Browning across the field.
“That’s the way he is in practice,” Rodgers says. “High energy, high motor. He’s always 100 miles an hour.”
Rodgers has coached defensive linemen in college and the pros since 1994.
Too many pass rushers, he explains, get stopped initially and concede defeat. Not Muhammad. He “outworks” linemen. Up close, Rodgers sees how this all is a direct extension of his NFL journey. Linemen think they’ve got Muhammad blocked up and he drives harder. He busts free.
“He’s had adversity,” Rodgers says. “He plays like every play is his last because he’s been where they call you in and say, ‘We don’t have a place for you.’ So he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He feels like he’s got something to prove. No one in the outside world thought there was another rusher in the building. So he’s saying to himself, ‘What am I? Chopped liver? Then, I was sitting on the couch. This organization gave me a chance.’ He’s trying to make the most of his moment.”
What a wild card Muhammad will be this season.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:40 am
Apathy
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:43 am
I think both a.robinson and AQM will bring a sense of urgency to this team that is lacking….
i just hope others join the urgency party!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 am
If he was any good Kacy and the lions wouldn’t let him leave. Just depth and more of the same for the Bucs and impact dline players under Bowles/licht
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:27 am
Yea this 11 sack season is looking very strongly like it was a big fluke.. No doubt hes better than Braswell at least.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:34 am
This is what happened with Shaq. He was buried at Denver, never started, and the Bucs gave him a chance. AQM may well blossom here.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:36 am
Even a “Situational”” pass rusher is a huge upgrade at Edge
We definitely could have used him against the Falcons
Especially on 3-28 and 4-14
I think Muhammad will be better against the run with us
He’s has ideal size for a 3-4 OLB, he’s undersized as a 4-3 DE
I say he can play the run, and be a 3 down OLB for us
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:57 am
Detroit Lions love big physical players on their defensive line
They love to overwhelm offensive line
And free up their Linebackers and Safeties to make plays
To keep blockers off of them
This is where Detroit D-LINE 68 starts went to
Asian Hutchinson 6’7 268 lbs
17 Starts
DJ Reader 6’3 330 lbs
17 Starts
Alim McNeil 6’2 310 lbs
10 Starts
Tyleik Williams 6’3 328 lbs
10 Starts
Marcus Davenport 6’6 285 lbs
7 starts
Tyler Lacy 6’4 285 lbs
4 starts
Pat O’Connor 6’4 300 lbs
3 Starts
These are their 68 starts according to Sports Reference
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:03 am
That’s what allows him to stalk along the line, position to position, in search of a juicy mismatch. …some reporter
I can NEVER remember ANY lineman doing that in a TB defense. Do you think our defensive guru would allow that to happen? How would he drop back in coverage like Vita Vea?
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:17 am
Lakeland … Detroit’s not the only team to figure out that beefing up the DLine trench pays huge dividends. Seattle figured out the same thing, as did New England. Seattle’s 2 NTs & 3 DTs are all over 300 lbs & average roughly 325 lbs; their 2 DEs average about 295. New England lists 7 DTs, and they average roughly 310 lbs each.
Bucs list 1 NT (Vea) going 347 lbs plus 6 DTs averaging 299 lbs (thanks to Simmons weighing 334 lbs; but he only got 92 def snaps & probably won’t make this year’s team). We WERE extremely light, and that hurt us in the 4th qtr & in the Red Zone. It also hurt us in terms of OLB production (not enough pass rush from the interior DLine).
Big dogs like Vea & Suh are Rnd 1 picks for a reason: they won’t be there in Rnd 2. HOPEFULLY the Bucs realize how important grabbing a beastly NT/DT early is this year, and grabs Kayden McDonald or Caleb Banks IF they’re still available when we pick.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Exactly DEFENSE. We gotta beef up the trenches. It’s an old saying but still rings true to this day. You build from the trenches out. I know there’s a lot of GMC haters but I’m not one of them tho there was a big difference when we replaced GMC with suh. Gotta get big and nasty.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:21 pm
A few years back the Bucs made an effort to go smaller and quicker (probably because of the heat) on the D-line.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:50 pm
@jcscycles – Hate to break it to you. Shaq was 26 when we signed him. This guy is 31 next week.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Strange story for a guy that can get sacks like that as apart time player Joe. Hey at least he doesn’t appear to be in love with his bong soo.
Go Bucs!
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:58 pm
I’m really excited about him
March 23rd, 2026 at 1:10 pm
Can’t wait to see him drop back in coverage 30 yards downfield vs a WR.
The Guru will put him in position to fail. As the HC\DC always does.
ME13 and Dean bolted like they robbed a bank.
The Bowles coaching tree is a dead fall riddled with termites.
2026 is already a dumpster fire.
March 23rd, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Credit to Muhammad for hanging around, year after year.
And credit must be given for the 11 sacks.
But the totality of his career? Another steal by Licht from Dollar General.
Again, I hope I’m wrong, but Licht’s intransigent modus operandi never seems to work. PLEASE, FOR ONCE, CAN WE SPEND THE EXTRA DOLLARS FOR SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?
This FA year is done until the regular season trading deadline approaches. If the Bucs are in a lock with all division rivals, where all teams are at .500, with a high priced FA pass rusher available to push them over the hump, will Licht go for it?
No, no and NO!
It’s getting old. I want this team to win, but you gotta take some chances from time to time to do it!
Tired of hearing “might” and “if” when referring to winning and the signing of players. How about “when” and “where” the Super Bowl parade route “will” take place?