The Detroit Lions have relied on linebacker Alex Anzalone to anchor the middle of the defense for the last five years, but the franchise is in danger of losing the longtime starter this offseason.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported last week that Anzalone, who is headed to free agency in March unless he agrees to an extension with Detroit before then, will garner meaningful offers from other teams around the NFL.

“Anzalone has been a fixture for the Lions in the Dan Campbell era, and his game is more respected in league circles than in fan or media circles,” Fowler wrote on January 8. “The early feedback: Anzalone’s return is a 50/50 proposition. Detroit wants him back, but he’ll have interest from other teams.”

Alex Anzalone Has Been Productive Starter for Lions Over Last 5 Years

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone.

Anzalone, 31 years old, is a nine-year veteran who spent the first four seasons of his career as a member of the New Orleans Saints.

Since joining the Lions as a free agent in March 2021, Anzalone has started all 73 games in which he has appeared, missing 12 total contests over that stretch.

Anzalone has 490 tackles, including 26 tackles for loss, 33 pass breakups, 32 quarterback hits, nine sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries across his half-decade in Detroit.

He put up 95 tackles, including four tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, six quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 16 games played (all starts) for the Lions during the 2025 campaign.

Anzalone signed a three-year extension in 2023 worth a little over $18 million. He played on a restructured deal this season for a fully guaranteed $6.25 million after wanting a new contract in the offseason. He has made just shy of $26 million total over the course of his career.

Lions Must Decide Where to Spend This Offseason Between Offensive Line, Edge Rush and Linebacking Group

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Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone.

There have not been reports of any acrimony between Anzalone and the Lions, though the way his contract situation played out during the spring coupled with how well he performed in a mostly healthy campaign this year, the linebacker is likely to test the waters of free agency and see what is out there for him.

Spotrac projects Anzalone’s market value at nearly $15.2 million over a new two-year contract ($7.6 million annually). The Lions are not in bad financial shape heading into 2026, with a salary cap deficit of just $5 million as of Saturday.

Detroit is also expected to clear significant space by releasing left tackle Taylor Decker this offseason if he doesn’t retire first.

“The Lions will cut left tackle Taylor Decker if he does not retire,” ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicted this week. “He will be 33 years old next season and has had issues with shoulder injuries. Through Week 17 in 2025, he fell to 43rd out of 70 ranked tackles in pass block win rate, and he ranks 61st in run block win rate.”

Moving on from Decker with a post-June 1 designation will save the Lions $18.2 million in each of the next two seasons and create dead cap hits of just $3.148 million in each of the next three years.

That move alone would create more than enough money to bring Anzalone back at the value of Spotrac’s salary projection. However, Detroit must also consider upgrades to an offensive line that took a big step back in 2025 and could take another without Decker if the team doesn’t add to the unit.

The Lions may also need to acquire another edge-rusher, or even two, depending on the free agency of defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad.