Lions contract tracker: Depth chart of signed players, free agents & cap hits

The Detroit Lions 2023 season is within the books, which suggests we’re shifting gears and starting to take a deeper have a look at the 2024 offseason.

For this repeatedly updating piece, we are going to deal with the Lions’ roster heading towards free company and the NFL Draft. This text is organized by place group and can present followers with an outline of the gamers on the roster, injured reserve, or apply squad on the finish of the season.

Inside every part, we are going to present readers with an end-of-season depth chart on the place, establish the roles gamers held, the 2024 contract particulars of the gamers presently signed by the Lions, in addition to a number of key phrases to higher make clear every participant’s state of affairs.

Phrases to Know:

UFA: Unrestricted Free Brokers can signal with any workforce in the course of the free company interval starting on March 13 (Tampering negotiations start on the eleventh). Lions can re-sign these gamers at any time.

RFA: Restricted Free Brokers rights are held by the Lions. If an RFA receives a contract from one other workforce, the Lions can match the provide or probably obtain draft compensation for permitting the participant to go away.

ERFA: Unique Rights Free Brokers are solely allowed to barter contracts with the Lions until Detroit chooses to allow them to discover free company.

SFA: Road Free Brokers are gamers who have been underneath contract with an NFL workforce in 2023, however not on an lively roster on the season’s finish. They’re free to signal with any workforce instantly. The most typical SFAs are gamers on NFL apply squads.

Futures contracts are offers given to road free brokers earlier than the beginning of free company. They’re referred to as “futures” offers as a result of whereas presently signed, these contracts don’t depend towards the cap till a “future” date—which is the beginning of free company.

Notice: the Lions have already begun signing gamers to futures contracts

2024 Cap Hit: How a lot a participant counts towards the workforce’s 2024 wage cap.

Ensures remaining: that is the remaining assured cash owed to the participant over the rest of his contract, not simply 2024. If the Lions transfer on from a participant with assured cash, that quantity will depend towards the Lions’ cap, though the participant is now not on the roster (“lifeless cap”). Expiring contracts that had VOIDED years additionally fall into this class.

NOTE: This text will likely be up to date all through the offseason and can embody hyperlinks to related articles that POD publishes over the subsequent a number of months, so make sure you bookmark and preserve a watch out for updates!

Quarterback

Jared Goff is within the closing 12 months of his contract, and as is with most beginning NFL quarterbacks, he has begun talks with the Lions on a contract extension. Early expectations are {that a} new deal will get performed this offseason. The asterisk within the ensures column signifies a possible addendum, and in Goff’s case, he may have one other $5 million of his contract turn out to be assured (bringing the entire as much as $10 million) if he’s nonetheless on the roster come March 15—there isn’t a change to the 2024 cap hit on this state of affairs.

Hendon Hooker is the one different quarterback underneath contract at the moment, and with a rookie deal in place, the Lions seem like in an excellent spot with an inexpensive, high-upside backup of their ranks.

2023 backup, Teddy Bridgewater is anticipated to retire this offseason, however on account of a voided 12 months in his contract, he’ll nonetheless account for $500,000 towards the cap in 2024. For these not acquainted, voided years are a workforce’s approach of liberating up wage cap area within the present whereas pushing the fee right into a future 12 months—it’s turning into extra widespread within the ever-evolving NFL contract panorama.

Sudfeld spent the season on injured reserve with an ACL damage, however his contract is ready to run out and he’ll probably turn out to be an unrestricted free agent.

Blough completed the season on the apply squad, which suggests his contract is ready to run out seven days after the Lions’ closing sport. At the moment he’ll turn out to be a road free agent who’s eligible to signal with any workforce.

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Operating again

The Lions have their high two backs underneath contract and their high two reserves tabbed as unique rights free brokers (which means they’ll probably return as nicely), placing them in an excellent spot to retain their operating backs room.

Jefferson and Funk will compete in camp, whereas Ibrahim’s well being remains to be a little bit of an unknown and will have impacted why he was not signed to a futures deal.

Cabinda is a dynamic particular groups participant, however the Lions phased down his position on offense, and it’s truthful to marvel if they’re headed in a distinct course—or if perhaps he needs to check the waters outdoors of Detroit. Coaches do love his sport, so a return can also be a really viable possibility.

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Large receiver

The Lions will return 4 of the six gamers that they had on the lively roster final season and all three of their apply squad large receivers. Each Josh Reynolds and Donovan Peoples-Jones will probably be thought-about for return, however is also squeezed out if the Lions improve their depth within the offseason.

As a result of Amon-Ra St. Brown has performed three years within the NFL, he’s eligible for a contract extension. Contemplating his All-Professional standing and very low wage cap hit quantity, a increase could also be so as this offseason.

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Tight finish

Whereas Sam LaPorta shattered rookie information this previous season, the subsequent three tight ends on the depth chart all remarkably landed on injured reserve to complete the season. The Lions might be content material bringing Brock Wright again and retaining their high three, however with a damaged forearm and an RFA contract, it’s not assured he’ll return. Zylstra will probably get one other look with an ERFA standing, and it’s unclear the place Anthony Firkser and Zach Ertz match into the plans.

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Offensive deal with

The Lions have their beginning tackles locked up for not less than another 12 months, although Taylor Decker might be a candidate for a contract extension, whereas Penei Sewell has a fifth-year possibility on the desk and, like St. Brown, is eligible to start contract extension discussions.

The teaching workers likes Matt Nelson and Dan Skipper—particularly as sixth offensive linemen—and thought sufficient about Connor Galvin to maintain him on the apply squad a full 12 months, however none of them are attractive damage substitute choices. Upgrading the OT3 spot on the roster might be a low-key precedence this offseason.

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Inside offensive line

All three guards within the beginning combine are UFAs and will probably depart Detroit with an issue.

Former Professional Bowler Jonah Jackson will be the Lions’ high free agent this offseason, however with a excessive frequency of accidents over the previous two seasons, it’s troublesome to gauge his market worth. Graham Glasgow returned to Detroit to “play along with his mates” and had probably the greatest years of his profession. Each the Lions and Glasgow have a mutual curiosity in re-signing in 2024, which ought to be a simple determination. Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s well being is a giant thriller, however a again damage has ended his season prematurely for the second 12 months in a row. After considering retirement final offseason, it’s truthful to marvel if that thought is given consideration once more.

Colby Sorsdal is creating rapidly and the Lions like Kayode Awosika sufficient to select up his ERFA contract, which ought to give the Lions some stability.

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Inside line of defense

The Lions have discovered a gem in Alim McNeill, and like St. Brown and Sewell, he’s eligible for a contract extension this season. McNeill is a terrific starter, however the Lions have been on the lookout for solutions to line up subsequent to him.

Isaiah Buggs earned the job final 12 months however was a substitute possibility in 2023, ultimately getting launched. Benito Jones earned the beginning job out of camp however he was changed late within the season by veteran Tyson Alualu, who discovered the sector most frequently as a apply squad elevation. Levi Onwuzurike is getting more healthy however is hard to depend on for a beginning position and Brodric Martin is creating however on the sluggish path to the sector—as a rule being a wholesome scratch.

The Lions will probably enter the offseason on the lookout for a dependable starter alongside the inside.

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Edge rushers

Aidan Hutchinson elevated his sport as soon as once more this season, and whereas the John Cominsky/Josh Paschal mixture reverse him labored nicely, they’ve proven they’re higher bullies than move rushers. Even with the Lions more likely to decide up the ERFA possibility on James Houston, the Lions completely must discover a move rusher who can work the sting.

Romeo Okwara confirmed promise, however he, his brother Julian, and Charles Harris seem weak to being changed. Search for the Lions to barter with Romeo however the writing was on the wall for the opposite two after spending a lot of the season as wholesome scratches.

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Linebackers

The Lions desire six off-the-ball linebackers on their roster and have stored not less than six in all three of Dan Campbell’s seasons in Detroit. Jalen Reeves-Maybin earned a Professional Bowl nomination for his particular groups efforts this season, whereas Anthony Pittman has been a particular groups staple for all 4 of his seasons in Detroit.

The Lions will virtually assuredly be retaining six on subsequent 12 months’s 53-man roster, and it might make sense that they attempt to work out contracts with Reeves-Maybin and Pittman.

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Nook

After Cameron Sutton and Brian Department, there’s not a lot settled amongst the Lions cornerback room. Emmanuel Moseley is recovering from a second torn ACL in as many seasons, Vildor is a reserve who was compelled right into a beginning position, Will Harris solely noticed 17 defensive snaps after the bye week, Jerry Jacobs was benched, Khalil Dorsey obtained a shot to begin however was primarily a particular teamer, Steven Gilmore was a wholesome scratch in 14 video games, Chase Lucas was launched twice over the ultimate month of the season, and Craig James by no means left the apply squad.

Whereas it’s clear the Lions want a beginning outdoors nook—ideally a CB1 succesful participant—they can even probably convey a couple of of their reserves again for depth and particular groups roles.

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Security

The emergence of Ifeatu Melifonwu has given the Lions a younger, formidable beginning duo, however there are some potential points with their depth. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a UFA and it’s troublesome to challenge if he’ll return in 2024. In the meantime, Tracy Walker has the third-highest wage cap hit on the roster however was a wholesome scratch within the playoffs, leaving his future in Detroit very a lot unsure.

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Particular groups

Past Jack Fox, there’s not a lot assured amongst the specialists. Michael Badgley was the workforce’s decide over Riley Patterson down the stretch however his difficulties with long-range discipline objectives confirmed up within the NFC Championship. Scott Daly beat out Jake McQuaide in coaching camp, however a Daly damage led to McQuaide returning to the roster.

Count on some new expertise to be introduced in for one more coaching camp competitors.

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