Silent Holdout? Alex Anzalone Sends Loud Message to Lions: “Pay Me What I’m Worth

While much of the focus has centered around another anticipated contract extension within the team, Anzalone’s status has quietly flown under the radar. Skipping voluntary workouts wasn’t considered alarming at the time. However, with Anzalone heading into the final year of his deal, it has raised some eyebrows.

Because the Lions are set to play in the Hall of Fame Game, they chose to bypass mandatory minicamp — which meant observers never had the chance to see if Anzalone might have skipped that as well. Now that the full team’s return is imminent, attention is again on whether he’ll report on time.

Throughout the offseason, Anzalone has dropped subtle hints on social media about wanting a new contract — along with possible frustration over the lack of progress. So far, there’s been no concrete reporting on negotiations, raising the possibility that serious discussions haven’t even started.

There’s no question about Anzalone’s value to Detroit’s defense. In fact, the unit’s performance dipped noticeably during the stretch he missed last season — a fact backed by statistics. But at nearly 31 years old, and playing a position that often isn’t paid top-tier money, Anzalone could face an uphill battle. The team’s future plans may revolve around second-year linebacker Jack Campbell, who appears poised to take on the signal-calling “green dot” responsibilities.

On Friday, Pride of Detroit’s Al Karsten tweeted a graphic ranking Lions players based on “splash plays” — including sacks, QB hits, TFLs, picks, and forced fumbles. Anzalone ranked third with 17 such plays last season. He quickly reacted to the tweet, clearly taking note.

Karsten followed up by listing the top 10 linebackers in splash plays over the past three years. Anzalone landed at No. 10 with 63 — just behind Fred Warner, widely seen as the NFL’s best at the position. Anzalone also played in eight fewer games than Warner during that span.

One notable detail: Anzalone’s $6.1 million average salary ranks lowest among that top 10. After Karsten pointed that out, Anzalone retweeted it — a quiet but clear message in support of his worth.

While his discontent over his contract seems evident, it’s still unclear how far he’s willing to take it. Will he actually skip training camp and risk financial penalties? The answer will unfold in the coming days.