Linebacker Alex Anzalone is reportedly looking for a new contract from the Detroit Lions this offseason.
Anzalone made some cryptic posts on social media this offseason suggesting that was the case, and his absence from voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) further suggested he wants a new contract.
While we wait for something official to happen, there appears to be at least a glimmer of hope with the situation.
As of Friday, Anzalone had a tweet pinned to the top of his X account saying, “Respect is due,” which was one of the aforementioned cryptic posts he made.
However, at some point between then and Saturday morning, that post was no longer pinned to the top of his timeline, which could be a sign that something is about to get done, or has gotten done already and we just don’t know about it yet.
There is no question that Anzalone is a massive part of the Lions’ defense entering the 2025 season.
We got a taste of just how much the Lions need him in 2024 when Anzalone missed significant time with a fractured forearm before returning and immediately providing a boost to the defense at the end of the season.
While that part of the conversation makes extending Anzalone a no-brainer, there is also the part that Anzalone will be 31 in September. And, bear in mind, his new contract wouldn’t start until his age-32 campaign.
The Lions need to find a sweet spot with Anzalone in a deal that pays him what he’s worth but also doesn’t put the team at risk of having Anzalone under contract when his inevitable decline begins.
Pride of Detroit’s Matt Warren and Rohan Chakravarthi made a reasonable projection that pays Anzalone $15 million over two years, with $9 million guaranteed.
At $7.5 million per, Anzalone would be getting an annual raise of $1.4 million, which is fair. The only thing that could complicate things is the Derrick Barnes contract, which pays him $8 million annually.
Of course, Barnes is much younger and no doubt a talented player, but he’s also far less proven than Anzalone, who makes a bigger impact on the defense. Anzalone might believe he’s worth more than Barnes, in which case he wouldn’t take that contract.
Whatever the Lions decide to do, they need to get Anzalone signed ahead of 2025. He’s just too important to the defense and the Lions’ Super Bowl hopes.
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