The Detroit Lions have officially signed linebacker Alex Anzalone, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million, and he appears to be a front-runner for a starting off-the-ball linebacker role alongside Jamie Collins.
The Saints drafted Anzalone in the third round (76th overall) of the 2017 draft, where he played with former Lions’ linebacker Jarrad Davis at Florida. Over four seasons in the NFL, Anzalone started 20 of the 38 games he played in but he landed on injured reserve in 2017 and 2019. Injuries—specifically his shoulder—are something that has plagued him since college.