The NFL published new salary cap and contract figures on Friday. As a result, teams will be aware of the amounts available for upcoming free agency. The Detroit Lions’ general manager, Brad Holmes, is projected to have approximately $55 million to spend when free agency begins in March. They also discovered how much it would cost to exercise the fifth-year option on offensive tackle Penei Sewell.
The NFL determines the cost of fifth-year options based on a player’s success over the first three years. Players who make it to the Pro Bowl are eligible for higher pay.
All players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft are eligible for fifth-year options. Sewell is entitled to $19.04 million because he was chosen for one Pro Bowl. He played in two Pro Bowls but was chosen an alternate in 2022. Since his arrival in the league as Detroit’s seventh overall pick in 2021, the Oregon product has been on fire. In addition to his Pro Bowl honors, he was named first-team All-Pro in 2023.
Here are some interesting storylines involving the Detroit Lions on February 23. The NFL also published the tender amounts for restricted free players, with salaries beginning at $2.985 million. The Lions have six restricted free agents: Jerry Jacobs, Benito Jones, Khalil Dorsey, Brock Wright, Scott Daly, and Anthony Pittman. Columnist John Niyo of the Detroit News explored the process that Brad Holmes and the Lions would face during the forthcoming draft. 97.1’s hosts, Doug Karsch and Scott “Gator” Anderson The Ticket looked at what a potential extension for Lions quarterback Jared Goff would look like. Yahoo! Sports published a preview of the Lions’ offseason in 2024.
READ MORE…..
Lions are urged to steal a 5-year veteran guard from their division rival.
The Detroit Lions are poised to lose some offensive line members that helped pave the way for one of the league’s greatest offenses in 2023, but a report suggests they may go to a division rival for one critical acquisition.
According to Christian Booher of SI.com, the Lions could look for new offensive line help in free agency, with Minnesota Vikings guard Dalton Risner being a potential target. The five-year veteran, who has appeared in 77 games in his career, is nearing the conclusion of his one-year contract in Minnesota and may be an inexpensive target for the Lions if the Vikings decide not to re-sign him, according to Booher.
Lions are urged to add versatility. Veteran
According to Booher, Risner has shown to be a quality interior lineman, particularly as a pass blocker, and appears to be a reasonable target for a Lions team that has already spent heavily in its offensive.
“Risner has shown to be an effective pass-blocker, surrendering only 87 pressures in over 2,000 pass-blocking snaps. Booher stated, “His performance in the run game has been inconsistent.”
“Risner could be a more affordable option for the Lions if they lose a starter, and could also serve as veteran depth for the unit.”
Risner spent the first four seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos, starting all 62 games.
Booher mentioned additional potential offseason arrivals for the Lions, including Miami Dolphins tackle Robert Hunt. The SI.com writer noted that Hunt has been efficient as a pass blocker, surrendering only five total pressures and one sack last season, but has been hampered by injuries.
Lions Could Lose Key Player.
Detroit’s free agency intentions could be determined by what the team decides to do with guard Jonah Jackson, who will become a free agent in March. Morgan Cannon of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit speculated that Jackson could be Detroit’s “toughest decision” this offseason, especially since he is likely to command a contract that is out of their price range.
Cannon observed that the Lions have already made significant investments in their offensive line, with tackle Taylor Decker carrying a $19 million salary hit in 2024 and center Frank Ragnow carrying a $12.8 million cap hit of his own. With Penei Sewell certain to sign a large contract extension within the next year, the Lions may lack the resources to keep Jackson on the roster.
The team is already in talks with quarterback Jared Goff about extending his contract, and Cannon observed that Jackson may be in great demand when he hits free agency, making him a costly addition if the Lions want to bring him back.
“From Jackson’s perspective, he is 27 years old and coming off of a third-round rookie contract,” Cannon stated in an email. “Typically, a player should strike while the iron is hot. There may be a team out there trying to enhance their left guard position, and if they have a lot of money to throw at the problem, the Lions may rapidly fall out of the running to keep Jackson.”
