Mid-February in Detroit usually involves two things: sub-zero temperatures and Brad Holmes meticulously weighing the value of culture against the cold reality of the salary cap.
While the Lions front office has spent the last year locking up pillars like Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown, the 2026 franchise tag window brings a far more complicated math problem to the table, centered around LB Alex Anzalone.
The Veteran’s Value
Anzalone has been the on-field coach for Dan Campbell since the day they both arrived from New Orleans. After a 2025 season where the Lions’ secondary was decimated by injuries, Anzalone’s consistency was the glue that held the unit together finishing the campaign with 95 tackles, serving as the primary green-dot for a defense that saw growth under DC Kelvin Sheppard.
However, Anzalone is now 31, and his contract has officially expired. And with All-Pro Jack Campbell already in place, a multitude of options remain in front of Holmes and Campbell as far as next steps,
Let's peel the layers back.
The $24 Million Math Problem
The dilemma for Detroit is purely financial. The projected 2026 LB franchise tag is approximately $24.1M, and for a team that currently faces an $8.5M salary cap deficit, eating a $24M one-year hit for a 31-year-old linebacker is -- mathematically speaking -- almost impossible.
Applying the tag wouldn't just be about keeping Anzalone; it would require the Lions to immediately cut or trade multiple veterans just to get the move on the books. While Holmes values Anzalone's leadership and consistency, the tag is usually reserved for headliners. and Anzalone's value has always been more about scheme and leadership than individual dominance.
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The "Tag and Trade"...or Farewell?
A "Tag and Trade" is equally unlikely here. While a contender might want Anzalone’s veteran presence, no team is trading assets to inherit a $24M one-year salary for an aging presence in the middle of a defense.
The real dilemma for Detroit is between a team-friendly three-year extension or letting the captain walk into free agency to sign elsewhere for money he believes he deserves. And if Anzalone hits the open market, there would be a long list of teams who would likely offer a deal that exceeds what Detroit’s tight budget can handle.
The Verdict
The Lions are in a youth movement phase of their defensive evolution, and the $24M tag is a non-starter. Expect Detroit to skip the tag entirely, offering Anzalone a legacy-type deal to stay in Motown -- but if he wants one last big payday, he'll likely be leading a new huddle in 2026.