Al-Quadin Muhammad joins forces with Alex Anzalone for a third career reunion, aiming to ignite the Buccaneers' pass rush.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers bolstered their defensive line unit in free agency, bringing in former Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapaport.
Muhammad recorded 11 sacks and 53 quarterback pressures last season, making the most of his rotational snaps despite coming off the bench.
He joins his former Lions teammate Alex Anzalone in Tampa Bay after the pair spent the past two seasons playing together in Detroit.
Anzalone and Muhammad were also drafted together in 2017 by the New Orleans Saints, making Tampa Bay the third stop where the duo has teamed up.
Muhammad made his first media appearance as a Buccaneer on Friday, talking about how special it is to stay with Anzalone.
"He's a great extinctive, smart football player. Me and him are really close, really good friends. So, I'm super excited to be able to be on a new team and, you know, still play with him," Muhammad said. "Just to have somebody that you've been out there in games, live action, with and just know what he's about. He's always the standard."
Muhammad credited Lions defensive line coach Casey Rodgers, who served six seasons with Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2021.
"My last d-line coach, Casey Rodgers, he was coaching in Tampa. So me and him spoke and, you know, he said it would be a great fit," Muhammad said. "He said I'd really like it. So, I knew there was some familiarity there. I felt really confident and I felt happy about it, excited about it."
Despite playing rotational snaps for the Lions last season, Muhammad's 11 sacks is four more than Yaya Diaby, who led Tampa with seven sacks. In an increased role, Muhammad could provide Diaby with a lethal counterpart on the other edge, but Muhammad knows his production comes from the work he's put in.
"It doesn't mean anything if you don't put the work in. It starts from day one," Muhammad said. "Doing the little things, taking care of your body, training, building that foundation, and then, you know, going out there and learning how our coaches, our staff, how my new teammates like to do things and keep building."
Muhammad also talked about doing whatever he can do to help Diaby, a three-year starter who has racked up 19 sacks since the Bucs drafted him in Round 3 in 2023.
"Yaya, he's going to have a great year and, to be honest, I can't wait to work with him," Muhammad said. "Ultimately, I'm going to help him in every way I can. And you never know, I could learn some things from him as well."
He also credited Diaby for his natural ability, calling him "super talented" before once again expressing his excitement to be a Buc.
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