Lions adjust Anzalone's contract, but no extension for defensive captain

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Canton, Ohio — Earlier this week, the Detroit Lions awarded linebacker Alex Anzalone a small pay bump, the opportunity to earn a little bit more this season through incentives, and, most importantly, assurance by guaranteeing his salary.

They're a series of small but not insignificant concessions. Yet, it still leaves the defensive captain without the extension he desired heading into the final year of his contract.

Coming off back-to-back one-year agreements with the Lions, Anzalone secured a longer-term commitment in 2023, signing a three-year, $18.8 million contract with the club. That pact included a $4.8 million signing bonus and $9 million in total guarantees, which were exhausted after last season.

Entering the final year of the contract, Anzalone had no remaining guarantees. His lingering dead money cap hits were tied to prorated portions of his signing bonus, which the Lions spread out until 2026 with the inclusion of a void year at the end of the deal. Anzalone wasn’t at risk of being cut this offseason. Regardless, an unforeseen injury could have impacted his ability to collect the $6 million salary he was due in 2025.

The adjustment to Anzalone's contract not only fully guaranteed the $6 million but also adds a $250,000 sweetener to his salary. The final adjustment to the contract was the inclusion of up to another $750,000 in playing-time incentives.

Given Anzalone was almost certain to earn at least $6 million in 2025 — given veteran salaries are guaranteed if they’re on the roster for Week 1 — his maximum additional earnings would cost the Lions a little more than 0.3% of the $279.2 million salary cap this season.

The appeasement isn’t nothing, but also not the extension Anzalone is still hoping to earn from the Lions. At the very least, this will allow him to give everything he has through the remainder of training camp, without worry that an injury could jeopardize his short-term financial security.

In four seasons with the Lions, Anzalone, 30, has made 57 starts, racking up 395 tackles (22 for a loss), 6.5 sacks and 24 pass defenses. He’s also been selected as a captain by his teammates each of those four seasons.