The Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a two-year contract with former Florida Gators linebacker Alex Anzalone on Monday, ESPN reported. The deal will become official on Thursday when the NFL’s new league year begins.
After five seasons in Detroit, Anzalone brings his wealth of leadership and experience to a defense looking for stability after a disappointing season in 2025. The 31-year-old has started 93 games for the Saints and Lions after being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
advertise
Last season, Anzaloni finished second on the team with 95 tackles; he also completed nine pass deflections and three forced fumbles. His zone coverage, game recognition and enthusiasm made him a fan favorite in the Motor City.
Anzalone was a four-star recruit under Will Muschamp and played for Florida from 2013 to 2016. His early time with the Gators was often hampered by injuries, but a breakout year in 2016 changed his fortunes.
Anzalone is a versatile defender with excellent instincts, and his lateral quickness and efficiency in pass coverage make him a valuable asset to Muschamp and Jim McElwain. During his redshirt junior season, Anzaloni started the Gators’ first eight games but suffered a broken forearm. He ranked third on the team with 53 tackles during that span. He declared for the NFL Draft after Florida became one of the SEC’s best defensive units during his time with the program.
In Tampa Bay, Anzalone is expected to be the depth piece the Bucs primarily use in their coverage scheme. His quick communication and diagnostic skills allow him to take over from Lavonte David in the middle and play either a strong-side or weak-side role opposite Yaya Diaby or Haason Reddick.
advertise
Anzalone’s upside aligns with head coach and former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ defensive philosophy, which expected linebackers to play multiple roles: blitzing, dropback and rotation defense.
follow us @GatorsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and blue skyand like our page Facebook Follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Lions lose key defensive player Alex Anzalone to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
