One of the biggest challenges Brad Holmes<\/span><\/a> faces this off-season is improving the Lions\u2019 roster with a stretched-to-the-limit salary cap. Detroit has 48 free agents in 2026<\/a>, and with the salary cap constraints, this limits the number of players the team can re-sign. Players who make a significant contribution must be prioritized. One player the team must re-sign is EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad<\/a>.<\/span> After <\/span><\/span>posting a career-best season with 25 tackles (15 solo), 11.0 sacks, and 53 pressures, he made it known he\u2019s looking to get paid in 2026.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n According to Overthecap.com,<\/span><\/a> Detroit is projected to exceed the team’s salary cap by more than $8 million. Unfortunately, that budget overrun could mean the team can\u2019t afford Muhammad, and he’s doomed to become a cap casualty. However, now there\u2019s reason for hope amid an increasing likelihood the Lions might be able to retain him.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Historically, Holmes has managed Detroit’s salary cap very successfully, prioritizing in-house extensions while filling roster gaps with low-cost free agent acquisitions signed to one-year contracts. The delicate balancing act of retaining free agent talent and foundational team members must be weighed against the cost of acquiring comparably cheaper outside talent. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n Navigating this year\u2019s salary cap will be Holmes\u2019 biggest challenge to date. In addition to retaining free agent talent, Jahmyr Gibbs<\/span><\/a>, Jack Campbell<\/span><\/a>, Sam LaPorta, <\/span><\/a>and Brian Branch<\/span><\/a> are on the docket for high-cost extensions this year. The projected 2026 cost of extending all four premier players could exceed $71 million. That\u2019s a major hit to a 2026 roster that’s already projected to exceed $300 million. But hopefully, those extensions can be structured to minimize the impact this year, with the majority of dollars hitting in future years. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n Meanwhile, last week, the NFL gave teams with strapped budgets reason for hope. \u00a0The league is projecting a salary cap increase from $279.2 million to a range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million per club in 2026. \u00a0The increase gives the Lions a bit more wiggle room to negotiate with Muhammad. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Fans have been clamoring for Holmes to sign a top free agent EDGE to play alongside Aidan Hutchinson, <\/a>b<\/span>ut he may already be in-house. Muhammad proved to be a strong complementary partner to Hutchinson, and both players excelled, each ranking in the NFL’s Top 10 in sacks.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n “I think I got an opportunity to just show other teams<\/a> in this league that I can play at a high level,” Muhammad said. “It’s a testament to the way I work, what I stand for, and who I am as a player.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n While re-signing Muhammad won\u2019t come cheap, his age (almost 31) could work against him if he\u2019s seeking a multi-year contract. However, Detroit would retain a proven veteran whose performance has only gotten better with age and experience. “I hope this team values me, and I will go where I\u2019m valued, to be honest. I would love to be back here, but you ultimately go where you\u2019re valued.”\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Not every player currently listed on the roster will be retained. Nonetheless, even with the NFL salary cap increase, the Lions remain perilously close to the edge. There\u2019s bound to be attrition for a variety of reasons. Players, including Taylor Decker or Graham Glasgow, could be lost to retirement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Others, who failed to achieve performance targets, will be cut. Although the team will undoubtedly absorb a dead money hit, the remaining budgeted salary frees up additional dollars.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Another way to create cap space is by restructuring existing contracts. Jared Goff<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and Alim McNeill<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>enter 2026 with huge salary cap hits. Restructuring their contracts through option bonuses and performance-based incentives could free up money to be used elsewhere.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Last year, the Lions added a contract sweetener<\/a> <\/span>to LB Alex Anzalone’s<\/a>\u00a0contract. While he didn\u2019t get the extension he sought, Anzalone maximized his contract enhancement with an exceptional 2025 performance. He recorded 95 tackles (52 solo), 2.5 sacks, 12 pressures, nine pass defenses, and one interception. \u00a0Playing over 1,000 snaps in 16 games, Anzalone posted 44 stops and ranked 11th in the league<\/a> with only seven missed tackles. He’s another valued free agent the Lions need to retain. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The question becomes, can Holmes accomplish more with proven in-house players? Or by acquiring low-cost outside talent? While fans begged Holmes to go after a premier free agent EDGE, such as the Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, his anticipated price puts him out of reach.<\/p>\r\n Instead, there are numerous advantages to working with in-house athletes. There’s no learning curve. \u00a0They know the playbook and the system. In the case of Muhammad, he and Hutchinson developed a keen understanding of how to maximize their dual impact. It’s unusual to find that kind of synchronicity and chemistry.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Holmes prefers to build the roster with inexpensive rookie talent and develop them in-house. \u00a0Even the most highly ranked EDGE prospects have a learning curve as they transition from college to the NFL. The Lions already have Ahmed Hassanein<\/a> as an EDGE in development. Drafting another EDGE as a developmental project may not be the best use of the team’s resources. \u00a0<\/p>\r\nNavigating A Bloated Salary Cap<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
Why the Lions Retaining Muhammad Is a Priority<\/h3>\r\n
The Magic of Salary Cap Math<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\r\n
The Advantages of Re-signing Free Agent Talent \u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n