The Detroit Lions haven’t yet made the pass-rushing upgrade their fans were hoping for this offseason, but they’ve been active on the edge. In the first week of free agency, they re-signed Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal and later released Za’Darius Smith.
This week, they strengthened their defensive end depth by re-signing Pat O’Connor to a one-year contract. Now, it appears they’ll keep another veteran on the edge. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey confirmed the Lions are re-signing defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad to a one-year deal.
Al-Quadin Muhammad joined the Detroit Lions midway through the 2024 season after a challenging previous year. He had missed six games during the 2023 season due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, and as a result, didn’t play at all during the regular season.
After spending most of August 2024 with the Cowboys, he was released just before the season started. However, Muhammad found a home with the Lions in October, where his presence proved beneficial. Over the course of nine games, he recorded three sacks and 24 pressures, helping to bolster a struggling pass rush.
Now, heading into 2025, Muhammad will return as a depth option for the Lions’ defense, but this time he’ll be part of a pass rush that should have an easier time pressuring opposing quarterbacks, especially with Aidan Hutchinson back in the lineup.
