Following the NFL’s establishment of a $255.4 million salary ceiling for 2024, the Detroit Lions have ample cap room.
On Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Minneapolis, Lions quarterback Jared Goff, right, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrate the team’s 30-24 victory that secured the NFC North Division.
The Detroit Lions have plenty of salary cap room because free agency begins in just over two weeks.
The NFL on Friday revealed a huge rise in the 2024 salary cap, giving each team $255.4 million. The cap was $224.8 million the previous year.
The NFL stated in a news release that the outcome of the full payback of all money granted by the clubs and deferred by the players during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an unusual rise in television revenue for the 2024 season, was the reason for the increase of more than $30 million.
For 2024, the Lions have cap commitments of roughly $171 million; however, this amount will go up when proven performance escalators for Alim McNeill and Amon-Ra St. Brown are taken into account.
According to OverTheCap.com, the Lions are projected to start the next league year with $63.7 million in cap room, the sixth highest in the NFL, after adding another $23 million in dead-cap money.
The Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots all have cap space exceeding $80 million.
Although they do not have a starting quarterback under contract for 2024, the Minnesota Vikings are comfortably under the cap with $37.8 million in cap room, while the Green Bay Packers are around $8 million under. Both teams are in the NFC North.
After the season, general manager Brad Holmes of the Lions stated that the team will try to sign some of its young core to long-term contracts rather than being a major force in free agency.
For the first time this summer, St. Brown, McNeill, and All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell are available for contract extensions.
Additionally, it is anticipated that the Lions will sign quarterback Jared Goff to a new long-term contract.
After their contracts expire, Goff, St. Brown, and Sewell ought to be among the highest-paid players in their respective positions.
Tracy Walker, a safety, was cut by the Lions on Tuesday, freeing up roughly $5.5 million in salary space.
