Al-Quadin Muhammad
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Al-Quadin Muhammad
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a somewhat quite offseason. After GM Jason Licht’s promise of a franchise-altering move, one hasn’t really come about despite the options being there for the Bucs. Still, signings like Alex Anzalone and Kenneth Gainwell could end up moving the needle on both sides of the ball. Now, another addition, while not quite Crosby or Hendrickson, can boost a position Bucs fans have been waiting to fill.
Former Lions outside linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad may not be the big name Bucs fans wanted, but he certainly can provide the production they’ve been so desperately missing. After being a sixth round pick in 2017, he has had somewhat of a miraculous journey, where last season was truly his breakout campaign.
Late-Career Breakout Put Muhammad on the Map
After bouncing around the league, playing for the Saints, Colts and Bears, he settled down in Detroit, where he was elevated to the active roster after serving a suspension. Immediately after, in his first game with the team, he recorded 2.5 sacks. He also had a performance against the Packers that saw him win NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Finishing the season with 25 tackles, 20 quarterback hits, and 11 sacks, all career highs, Muhammad put his name on the map. While he is 31 years old, he may just be entering his prime.
What the Bucs are getting may not be an elite difference maker but someone who can provide solid production and upside and most importantly, knows his role with his team. My value is when I chase guys down the field and I’m running out of the stack and I’m flying around,” Muhammad told Go Long’s Tyler Dunne during a one-on-one interview. “That’s what people don’t see. The little things. The hustle. The motor. You can’t put a price on that. A lot of people are talented. But mentally do they want to chase a guy 60 yards down the field? Every play? So, it’s just having the will.”
A Versatile Fit in Todd Bowles’ Defense
That kind of mentality would pair well with Yaya Diaby’s continued growth and David Walker’s recovery from injury. Muhammad will almost certainly see an uptick in production as he gets worked into the Bucs’ rotation.
Most importantly, while both Crosby and Hendrickson are established players in the league, Muhammad may have more versatility in terms of his play style. He can play as both a 4-3 edge rusher or a 3-4 linebacker, giving Todd Bowles options on how to best utilize him. Also, he doesn’t necessarily have to see the field all the time in order to make an impact either, having only played 40 percent of the Lions’ defensive snaps last year.
For all intents and purposes, this could end up being yet another dead end for the Bucs in their search for pass rush help. However, Muhammad has gone through so much to get to this point in his career where he can truly help teams. We’ll just have to see how everything plays out before jumping to instant conclusions about what he can bring to the table.