Coming off a career-best season, Al-Quadin Muhammad is generating free agency interest. The veteran edge rusher is set to meet with the Buccaneers, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Muhammad tallied 11 sacks and 20 QB hits for the Lions last season, mashing his best marks as a pro. The journeyman pass rusher played two seasons in Detroit. Tampa Bay was believed to be targeting pass rush help, but thus far in free agency, Jason Licht’s team has stood down.
Counting a stopover with the Cowboys that did not result in any playing time, Muhammad has played for five NFL teams. He was part of an impact 2017 Saints draft class, joining Trey Hendrickson as edge rushers among that transformative New Orleans group. But the Saints gave up on Muhammad after one season, leading him to the Colts via waivers. The Bucs were in this week’s Hendrickson market, but the Ravens — after they called off the Maxx Crosby trade — added him on a $28MM-per-year deal.
The Bucs were believed to have preferred a short-term deal with Hendrickson, who ended up committing to the Ravens on a four-year pact worth $112MM. As it stands, Tampa Bay is still in search of — after its 2025 Haason Reddick signing did not work out — a bookend for YaYa Diaby.
More to come.