The Detroit Lions did not spend on the pass rush around superstar defensive end Aidan Hutchinson this season, and it was breakout edge defender Al-Quadin Muhammad who played well enough to get the front office off the hook for that decision.

Detroit started the year with Hutchinson — coming off of a broken leg in Week 5 of last season, which sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign — on one side of the defensive line. The team went with Marcus Davenport on the other, whose extensive injury history showed up again in the form of a strained pectoral in Week 2.

Muhammad, a 30-year-old pass-rush specialist who is on pace to see his defensive snaps increase by more than 200 year over year, stepped up and has produced 11 sacks over 16 games — five more than his previous career high with one week left to play.

He has also put up career numbers in quarterback hits (20) and tackles for loss (9), and has a chance to add to those totals against the Chicago Bears next weekend at Soldier Field.

Because of Muhammad’s out-of-the-blue production, Detroit is fourth in the NFL in total sacks (48) through Week 17. The Lions would be in a tie with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 18th in that category without Muhammad’s contributions in 2025.

Hutchinson has 13.5 sacks, as he and Muhammad have combined for more than 50 percent of the defense’s total this season.

Not only do those statistics show how important Muhammad is to the defense and how reliant the unit is on his production, they also indicate a potential problem for the Lions. Detroit is paying Muhammad just $1.4 million on a one-year deal in 2025, as he has positioned himself for a significant raise come free agency in March.

Al-Quadin Muhammad Poses Interesting Questions to Lions in Free Agency Next Year

GettyDefensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (left) and head coach Dan Campbell (right) of the Detroit Lions.

If Detroit chooses not to pay for the pass rush again in 2026, the franchise might not be able to replace what Muhammad did this season, and the defense could see its quarterback pressures plummet.

Spotrac projects Muhammad’s value at $16.6 million on a new two-year contract, which equates to a nearly 600 percent raise annually in 2026 and 2027. That isn’t huge money for a quality pass-rusher, but Muhammad has tallied just 26 sacks in eight pro seasons (109 games played), with more than 40 percent of that total coming in his age-30 campaign.

That begs the question of whether the Lions need to concern themselves with paying him too much, just as they must also worry about Muhammad leaving the team for a better offer elsewhere and then figuring out how to replace him.

It also brings up an interesting debate about Hutchinson’s value to Muhammad’s success, and whether the Lions can put any decent player with a motor opposite Hutchinson and watch his numbers go up.

“I hope he’s back. I really hope he’s back,” Sean Baligian of Woodward Sports Network said of Muhammad on Monday, December 29. “What if somebody comes in and goes over the top?”

Aidan Hutchinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad Compared to Ndamukong Suh, Cliff Avril of Previous Lions Teams

GettyDefensive end Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions.

Baligian compared the circumstances of Muhammad and Hutchinson to those of Cliff Avril and Ndamukong Suh back in 2011 and 2012.

“Avril feasted off of what Suh was doing, alright? Cliff Avril would tell you that himself,” Baligian continued. “And if somebody wants to say that about [Muhammad], ‘Well, the doubles and the triples that [Hutchinson] is getting, that opens some things up for [Muhammad].’ Okay, we can have that conversation.”

“But my man also made things happen,” Baligian added. “And much like Cliff Avril was able to parlay that into a big contract, my guess is [Muhammad] will be able to parlay that into a pretty good contract.”

Muhammad will officially become a free agent in March, at which point he will be able to negotiate with any team in the league.