By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions might already be setting their sights on life after Alex Anzalone. With the veteran linebacker’s future in Detroit still up in the air, early mock drafts are pointing to the University of Texas standout Anthony Hill Jr. as the potential heir to the Lions’ defensive leadership.
Anzalone’s Uncertain Future
Alex Anzalone has been a pillar of Detroit’s defense since arriving in 2021, serving as captain for five straight seasons and playing a key role in the Lions’ rise back to contention. But heading into the final year of his contract, the front office hasn’t committed to an extension. Instead, they’ve added just $250,000 in base pay and up to $750,000 in incentives — a modest bump, but hardly the security of a long-term deal.
At 31 and with injuries creeping into the picture, Anzalone’s value to the team is clear — but so are the questions about how long he can keep holding down the middle of the defense.
Enter Anthony Hill Jr.
NFL Spin Zone’s Sayre Bedinger projects that Detroit could target Anthony Hill Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft. And if you’ve seen Hill play at Texas, you know why.
Hill is built like a modern linebacker: fast, rangy, and disruptive. Last season, he put up 113 tackles, 8 sacks, and earned both All-American and All-SEC honors. What makes him particularly intriguing for the Lions is his versatility — not only can he thrive as a traditional linebacker, but he’s also shown the ability to rush off the edge.
As Bedinger put it:
“He’s got size, speed, range, playmaking ability… but what will really endear him to a team like the Detroit Lions is that he’s got a nose for the football and is physical every single snap.”
Sounds like a Dan Campbell kind of guy, doesn’t it?
Balancing the Linebacker Room
Even beyond Anzalone, the Lions have financial and roster puzzles at linebacker. Jack Campbell will soon be due for an extension, Malcolm Rodriguez is on the free-agent track once he returns from injury, and depth guys like Trevor Nowaske, Grant Stuard, and Zach Cunningham are pending free agents too.
Detroit did lock down Derrick Barnes, but the group as a whole needs a youth infusion — and a rookie deal for a player like Hill Jr. could ease salary cap pressure while keeping the defense sharp.
For Now, It’s All About 2025
Of course, mock drafts are fun projections, but the real focus for Anzalone and the Lions is this season. With Super Bowl aspirations and a loaded roster, Detroit needs its captain to be at his best one more time.
But the writing is on the wall: the Lions are already thinking about the future. And if Anthony Hill Jr. really is the guy in 2026, the transition from Anzalone to the next great linebacker in Honolulu Blue could be a seamless one.