Zach Cunningham

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		106	716	6.5	1
2025		4	7	0.0	0
2024		7	4	0.0	0
2023		13	85

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Zach Cunningham's one-year, $1.3M deal represents a solid value pickup for whichever team signs the veteran linebacker, earning a B CVI grade that reflects smart roster building at the margins. At just $1.3M annually, this contract provides excellent financial flexibility for a player who profiles as a reliable rotational piece with proven NFL experience across multiple systems. The short-term structure is perfectly calibrated for both sides — Cunningham gets a chance to rebuild his market value after a tumultuous few seasons, while the signing team assumes minimal risk with a player who can contribute immediately on special teams and in specific defensive packages. For a rotational linebacker with his resume, this salary sits well below what similar veterans typically command, creating natural upside if he outperforms expectations or injuries create opportunities for expanded snaps. This is the type of low-risk, moderate-reward signing that championship-caliber front offices make to add depth and experience without compromising future cap flexibility.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Zach's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Zach Cunningham is a nine-year veteran linebacker and former second-round draft pick whose productive career has hit a wall. Once a reliable two-down defender and tackle accumulator for Houston and New Orleans, the 31-year-old free agent now occupies the twilight of his playing window. His B-minus career grade reflects a solid positional contributor, though recent performance trends suggest his best years are behind him. The concerning part: Cunningham's current-season tackle rate sits at 0.57 per game, drastically below the NFL average of 2.19 and light-years from elite linebacker standards of 7.32. This represents a significant decline from his career body of work as a consistent 100-plus-tackle producer. His season trajectory dropped from a C-minus in 2025 to a D in 2024, with only a B-minus in 2023 suggesting he remains capable of competent snaps but lacks consistency and positioning acuity at his age. Cunningham's ability to diagnose plays and provide veteran presence in the middle remains valuable in a backup or rotational role. However, the dramatic tackle decline signals either diminished athletic ability, reduced playing time, or a mismatch with recent defensive schemes. For 2026, Cunningham faces a critical juncture: a strong camp performance could secure a reserve linebacker role, but multiple below-average seasons likely disqualify him from starter consideration at the position.

How Zach Compares at the Position

Zach Cunningham ranks 82nd of 339 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Zach between DJ Wonnum (B-) just ahead and Byron Young (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Zach Cunningham enters 2026 free agency as a veteran linebacker with nine years of NFL experience, but his perception remains firmly in the solid depth/role-player category rather than a marquee starter. Media coverage is purely transactional—he appears in generic free-agency tracker lists alongside dozens of other available defenders, with no standout accolades or Pro Bowl selections to distinguish him. The Lions' internal discussions about linebacker needs suggest Cunningham may be considered a fallback option rather than a priority target, reflecting his mid-tier market value. His $1.3M salary history and modest career statistics (6.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles) position him as a reliable veteran presence for a contending team seeking depth, not a defensive anchor. Heading into the offseason, Cunningham's perception is stable but unremarkable—a journeyman linebacker likely to sign a modest deal with limited fanfare or media spotlight.