The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to address their outside linebacker/EDGE rusher depth this offseason after finishing in the middle of the pack in pressures and sacks in 2025, with the unit combining to record just 14 of the team’s 37 sacks. The Haason Reddick experiment did not pan out, as the two-time Pro Bowler is testing the open market. On top of that, Yaya Diaby enters a contract year, while Anthony Nelson has a $500,000 roster bonus due March 15, and the front office has to decide whether to keep or cut him, Christian Braswell has only 2.5 sacks in his first two seasons, and David Walker is recovering from a torn ACL.
Also Read: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Promising 4th-Round Pick Out for Season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers land breakout pass rusher for 2026
Detroit Lions, Al-Quadin Muhammad
Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
According to Ian Rapoport, the Buccaneers have signed Al-Quadin Muhammad to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million. He is on his sixth team and entering his tenth year in the NFL. Muhammad is considered a situational pass-rusher, meaning he does not offer much against the run and/or on early downs and will primarily be used on passing downs as a key reserve.
The #Bucs added another veteran up front, signing former #Lions edge Al-Quadin Muhammad to a 1-year deal with a max value of $6M, source said. pic.twitter.com/hUDGasMFeM
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2026
Here’s a quick review of his 2025 campaign
Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during the second half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during the second half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Al-Quadin Muhammad enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign, boasting career-highs in pressures, quarterback hits, and sacks. He totaled 53 pressures, 32 hurries, a whopping 15.4% pass-rush win rate, 20 quarterback hits, and 11 sacks across 17 games and 353 pass-rushing reps out of 457 total snaps. Muhammad also posted 25 tackles and nine TFLs, along with two run stops and a 2.4% stop rate across 83 run-defense snaps.