Alex Anzalone, Lions
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Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone reacting ahead of an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns.
One of the top targets for the New York Jets in free agency is picking up some steam.
Insider Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports revealed that “there is a market developing” for Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone ahead of free agency.
Back in January, Pauline shared that there is “mutual interest” between Anzalone and the Jets in a potential signing. He reiterated that the two sides are still interested in “negotiating a deal,” however, the latest interest in him from other teams “could complicate a reunion between the linebacker and the Jets.”
“Several teams have expressed an interest in signing Anzalone to a multi-year deal as the linebacker inches towards retirement. This means the Jets may have to pay above market value to reel him in,” Pauline wrote.
This Would Give the Jets a Chop to the Chest Before the Open Market
A potential reunion between head coach Aaron Glenn and Anzalone has been speculated for months.
Anzalone, 31, has been in the NFL for nine seasons. In eight of those nine seasons, he crossed over with Glenn.
The first four years of his career were spent with the New Orleans Saints. During the same period from 2017 to 2020, Glenn served as a defensive backs coach for the Saints.
In 2021, both Glenn and Anzalone left the Saints and immediately reunited on the Lions. They crossed over for an additional four seasons.
The only year they spent apart was this past season. Anzalone remained with the Lions, and Glenn took the head coaching job with the Jets.
It’s difficult to say things like this because it is the NFL and anything can happen, but Anzalone ending up a member of the Jets has felt like a foregone conclusion up until this latest update.
Insider Predicts Jets to Land Anzalone in Free Agency
Insider Greg Auman of NFL on FOX predicted that Anzalone would sign with the Jets on the open market when the new league year kicks off on March 11.
“Anzalone, 31, has had a productive five-year run in the middle of Detroit’s defense, averaging 14 starts and 98 tackles per year. He’s done it inexpensively, making $6 million a year on his last deal. Could his time with the Lions be up? Seems he could land with Aaron Glenn and the Jets if that is the case — Glenn was with him for four of those years in Detroit and arguably his best,” Auman wrote.
This Won’t Stop the Jets’ Plans
ESPN’s Rich Cimini joined me on “Boy Green Daily” in February. During our conversation, he explained that with Glenn taking over the defense, expect former players from his past to join the team.
“I think Glenn will bring in a couple of his guys. You need your guys in there. I mean, [Bill] Parcells was the master at it. I want to bring in my guys, like Pepper Johnson, who can basically be an extension of me in the locker room,” Cimini told me on the podcast.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic shared a similar report on “Jets Final Drive.”
So if Anzalone gets a better market than expected and signs elsewhere, that won’t stop the Jets.
Linebacker is certainly one of many needs for this team, but Anzalone isn’t the only LB available.
Several Lions defenders are set to hit free agency in 2026. Expect AG to bring in some trusted lieutenants to try and help turn this defense, and quite frankly, this team around.