Buccaneers already have the blueprint to maximize Al-Quadin Muhammad and it can help bring new life to the pass rush
The Buccaneers underwent a defensive makeover during the offseason and the addition of Al-Quadin Muhammad was part of it. Todd Bowles and Co. have a clear vision for him that will help the pass rush, as well.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to improve the pass rush heading into 2026 and on paper, Jason Licht and Co. have done just that.
Rueben Bain Jr. highlights the effort and for good reason, but don’t sleep on veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad, who is coming off a career year that resulted in 11.0 sacks.
That’s because Muhammad will play the role of pass rush specialist for the Buccaneers and honestly, he’s a chess piece Todd Bowles hasn’t really ever had in Tampa Bay.
A key factor behind Muhammad’s successful 2025 season was because the Lions moved him around all over the place. Sure, injuries played a role in that, but at the same time, Muhammad just continued to make an impact no matter where he lined up. Whether it was through his own play or freeing someone else up/assisting in creating mismatches, it worked and it worked well.
“I mean, you’ve literally seen Muhammad line up at the nose, the three, the edge, and hasn’t batted an eye,” Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said back in October. “He’s gotten run game in there, it hasn’t just been pass rush. I’ve seen him drop a knee and anchor. I mean, just anything you’ve asked that guy to do.
“And like I said, where he is in his career, to see him kind of ascending in a way is a credit to (Lions Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line) Kacy Rodgers, but more importantly, it’s a credit to Muhammad, man. Head down, he’s been a grinder since day one ever since I’ve met him.”
Al-Quadin Muhammad’s versatility can really help the Buccaneers’ pass rush
2025 was really the first season where Muhammad was moved around at the pace the Lions placed on him. Per Pro Football Focus, he played 20+ snaps at seven different positions and played at least one snap at 10 total spots.
The most positions played in a single season beforehand was eight, but it was nowhere near the same type of usage. That year, 737 of Muhammad’s 799 defensive snaps came from the left and right edge positions.
2025 was nowhere near as dominant – the largest amount of snaps played in one position 164 of his 456 total defensive snaps.
“He’s a pro, he’s serious, (and) you can line him up all over the place,” Buccaneers run game coordinator/outside linebackers coach Larry Foote said during rookie minicamp. “That’s the flexibility that he brings. I was surprised that we got him, because you can line him up all over the place, and he plays with that mindset and attitude that you look for. He’s mean, he’s nasty, and he’s been doing it for a long time.
How this all ties together comes in the shape of obvious passing downs and other situations that lean more toward the pass than the run. Don’t expect Muhammad to come in and be this every-down player who has Pro Bowl potential. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t add a productive layer to the rotation.
Where he can really stand out, honestly, is on the inside. Imagine it’s 2nd- or 3rd-and-long: The Buccaneers have Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby on the outside, with Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, and then Muhammad on the inside (among other guys on defense, of course).
That’s a five-set no offense wants to see on 3rd and long. Another scenario would entail the Buccaneers swapping out Josiah Trotter for Muhammad in terms of a body-for-body replacement. He can put his hand in the dirt or rush from a two-point stance, so he can be swapped out with anyone within the Buccaneers’ front seven.
Regardless, Muhammad’s versatility allows Bowles all kinds of possibilities to really get after opposing quarterbacks.
“In the pass rush game he’s very extensive,” Bowles told reporters on Day 1 of OTAs. “He can play at zero, he can play the three, he can play the shade, [and] he can play outside. I’m not saying he’s the run defender down there, but he can do some things in the pass rush game where it’ll help us get an extra guy in there with some juice on the interior and gives us options for different lineups.”
So what are the overall expectations for Al-Quadin Muhammad?
By no means am I saying Muhammad is coming in and leading the Buccaneers in sacks or anything like that. Hell, I’d frankly be surprised if he even hits double-digits in 2026.
I think 5.0-6.0 sacks are very realistic and I think the remaining impact comes in the form of opening things up for others. You know, the stuff people can’t see on the stat sheet.
It’s a total win for the Buccaneers if that comes to fruition and it should help the pass rush get back to the top-10 form Bowles and Co. have been used to seeing over the last half decade-plus.