Former Detroit Lions' Linebacker, Al-Quadin Mohammed, didn’t expect his departure from the franchise. His blunt reaction to joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is turning heads across the NFL.

30-year-old free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for this offseason. Getting released from the Detroit Lions, Muhammad agreed to a one-year contract on March 12 for $6 million. 

He was clearly shocked by how the entire thing with the Lions went.

“I don’t really know (with) Detroit (or) how they thought about it or exactly what went into it, and I don’t really care,” Al-Quadin said. “I’m in Tampa, and I’m happy to be in Tampa. And if I’m not mistaken, they’re on a schedule this year, so I’m excited about that."

Muhammad started his career with the New Orleans Saints in 2017 as a 12th pick in the sixth round. He played one season with the New Orleans Saints, appearing in 4 games. 

In 2018, he joined the Indianapolis Colts for four seasons, playing 64 games, and recorded 106 total tackles, 11 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. In 2024, he joined the Detroit Lions for two seasons, playing in 26 games, with 34 total tackles and 14 sacks.  

The 6ft 4in tall, weighing 250 pounds, linebacker has shown career-altering performance with the Lions. Reaching his career’s peak performance, a physical edge defender known for setting the edge against the run and contributing in rotational pass-rush situations. 

Muhammad told the reporters that he does not want to take any pay or team-friendly deal to stay with the Lions.

Muhammad was excited to join the Buccaneers because of the reunions with former linebacker Alex Anzalone.

“He’s a great, instinctive, smart football player,” Muhammad said. “Me and him are really close, really good friends. So I’m super excited to be able to be on a new team and still play with him. So it’s amazing,” he added. 

What the Release of the Ex-Lions Star Means for the Buccaneers and the Lions

The release of Al-Quadin Muhammad from the Detroit Lions removes a rotational edge defender from the defensive lineup. During his time in the NFL, his career stats reflect his value as a depth pass rusher and run defender.

The Detroit Lions relied on him mainly in rotational packages, perfectly implementing skipper Dan Campbell’s theories.

With his exit, the Lions will likely lean more heavily on players such as Aidan Hutchinson to anchor the pass rush while younger defensive linemen and rotational defenders take on additional snaps along the edge.

Al-Quadin Muhammad brings valuable experience to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive line as he joins stars like Vita Vea and Lavonte David, adding depth to their defensive lineup.

Muhammad’s ability to rotate across the defensive front allows Tampa Bay to keep its pass rush fresh throughout games. His run-stopping ability will also benefit the Buccaneers’ aggressive defensive scheme, where outside defenders are expected to maintain gap discipline while interior linemen collapse the pocket.

If he is integrated with the rotation quickly, Muhammad could become a solid edge option for Tampa Bay. He would also add flexibility to defensive packages during the season, as he was doing in the Lions.

What do you think about the ex-Lions star’s reaction to the Tampa Bay move? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Kalp Thaker