Lions & LB Alex Anzalone (UFA-Saints ) agree on 1 yr. deal

[D6]

Lions sign LB Alex Anzalone to a one-year deal

Lions to sign Alex Anzalone

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In the 'NFL Free Agency Preview: Linebackers ( 2021 )' thread, I expressed the following earlier in March:

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/929/free-agency-preview-linebackers-2021?page=1&scrollTo=5035

Jaylon Brown and Alex Anzalone are two LBs that caught my attention from this list. Both are currently 26 years and would add much needed speed at LB + an upgrade in coverage. Because of their injury histories, they likely will be at or near the Lions price range. The familiarity that Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn have with Anzalone will help assess whether he's a good fit for the Lions.

Good risk/ reward decision by Brad Holmes.

If Alex Anzalone remains relatively healthy much more often than not in the 2021 season, he should provide the Lions will some additional much needed speed at LB. Including, Anzalone having a history of being a good coverage LB. In addition, if the Lions use Anzalone on Special Teams, he should be an asset at least on the Special Teams Coverage units. Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn being very familiar with Anzalone is definitely a plus.

The Lions can use more help at LB. The good news is the team's LB situation has improved noticeably.

[D6]

Alex Anzalone on his Saints tenure, 'fun ride' ahead in free agency

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This article / interview regarding Alex Anzalone is from early March.

A major theme on the 2021 Lions will be many players are on one year prove it contracts or for practical purposes are, as in the case of Jared Goff.

[frenchylions]

Mar 24, 2021 14:00:35 GMT -5 D6 said:

A major theme on the 2021 Lions will be many players are on one year prove it contracts

Exactly what I was thinking seeing all these 1 year low risk / high reward additions to the team.
Obviously, Brad Holmes doesn't want to be tied up with long term / big bucks contracts.

[D6]

Interestingly, a few hours after I wrote the post, on my car radio, I was listening to HOF GM/ NFL Executive Bill Polian answer a caller on the NFL Sirius Radio show Polian co-hosts. In addition to Brad Holmes ( Polian didn't mention him or the Lions in this specific conservation) preferring to using this strategy in 2021, Polian expressed that the $15.5 million reduction in the NFL Salary Cap this year has led to MANY players accepting 1 year contracts. Knowing, that with a good 2021 season, the opportunity should be there to get a much better NFL contract in 2022. A possible exception is older players.

Related to this, Bill Polian also expressed that the reduced NFL Salary Cap has been a key in the Bucs being able to retain many FAs in their attempt to repeat Super Bowl Champions.