How Detroit Lions Can Add $17 Million in Cap Space

Should the Detroit Lions restructure the NFL contract of quarterback Jared Goff.

John Maakaron | Feb 27, 2022

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Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions front office still has high hopes that quarterback Jared Goff can win games in Motown.

"Jared, I can't say enough about his resiliency, and I've been talking about it at length," general manager Brad Holmes told reporters. "You guys have heard me talk about it all of the time about just the mental toughness and the physical toughness and his resiliency. That's why he fit from the very get-go."

While the team can easily move on from Goff's contract following the 2022 season, a restructuring of his current contract could add $16,776,667 in additional cap space for the front office to work with in 2022.

The 27-year-old's 2022 base base salary would be reduced from $10.6 million to $1 million.

Goff would go from currently having $15 million in guaranteed money to now securing $40.1 million guaranteed.

If Holmes and the front office decide to restructure his deal, the organization would essentially be handcuffed to the veteran quarterback for the next few seasons, as his cap number would be ridiculously high to move on from.

Year	Base salary	Prorated bonus	Additional bonus	Cap number
2022	$10,650,000	$5,000,000	$15,500,000	$31,150,000
2023	$20,650,000	$5,000,000	$5,000,00	$30,650,000
2024	$21,650,064	$5,000,000	$5,000,000	$31,650,064

Year	Base salary	Prorated bonus	Additional bonuses	Cap number
2022	$1,000,000	$13,383,333	0	$14,383,333
2023	$20,650,000	$13,383,333	$5,000,000	$39,033,333
2024	$21,650,064	$13,383,334	$5,000,000	$40,033,398

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Published Feb 27, 2022

JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!