Lions re-sign linebacker Alex Anzalone coming off best season of his career
After being a prominent part of the Lions defense last season, linebacker Alex Anzalone is coming back on another one-year deal.
With some familiarity with head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn from time together in New Orleans, Alex Anzalone signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions last offseason. He’s coming back, with the team announcing they’ve re-signed the veteran linebacker. Safety Jalen Elliott, linebacker Shon Dion Hamilton have also been re-signed.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Anzalone’s deal is for one year and worth up to $4 million.
Anzalone deal is one-year, worth up to $4 million
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 14, 2022
Anzalone immediately stepped into a big role for the Lions. He played every defensive snap in 11 of the first 12 games last season, before injuries hit. He missed the last three games of the season after he was placed on IR with a shoulder injury.
Anzalone finished with a career-high 78 total tackles in what amounted to 12 games, with seven pass breakups and an interception. But Pro Football Focus graded him out as the second-worst player on the entire Lions’ team in 2021 (34.1), so an upgrade seemed easy enough to find.
Starting job might not be guaranteed for Alex Anzalone
Take social media for what you will, but Anzalone seemed to tease his looming free agent departure in January. But on Monday morning his wife teased that he was traveling to Detroit, presumably to re-sign, and that’s what happened.
Now why would Alex Anzalone be traveling to Detroit?
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) March 14, 2022
(H/T @rharris_16) pic.twitter.com/4k6jZoOO1c
Anzalone immediately spoke to the media after news of his re-signing.
Alex Anzalone said he didn't need surgery and his injury wasn't related to his previous shoulder issues at Florida and in New Orleans.
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) March 14, 2022
Lions LB Alex Anzalone said the coaches in Detroit kind of gave him the keys to the defense last season, something he feels took his game to another level.
— Ben Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) March 14, 2022
#Lions LB Alex Anzalone says he was excited to come back because he felt appreciated here and has a role within the organization.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) March 14, 2022
Anzalone’s deal with the Lions last year was for $1.75 million, so he’s presumably getting a bit of a raise in terms of guaranteed money with the ability to earn “up to” $4 million. The easy assumption is he’ll be a starter and a prominent piece of the defense again next season, but his broader level of performance last season is ripe for competition. Leadership intangibles are fine and dandy, but the fact remains Anzalone was a key part of a Detroit run defense that was at times dreadful in 2021.
Next. Detroit Lions 2022 Free Agency Tracker. dark