The Detroit Lions coach says Wide Receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown signs a hefty new contract, but he could be…
A major factor in the Detroit Lions’ 2023 successful offensive campaign was Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown exceeded 1,160 yards receiving and obtained 100 catches or more for the second straight season. In addition, he caught a career-high ten touchdowns and was named to the first team of the Pro Bowl for the first time. He led the Lions’ receiving corps with ease.
Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and Jameson Williams—three more pass catchers—all had successful runs in the 2023 campaign. Furthermore, all three of them and St. Brown were essential to Jared Goff’s 2023 campaign, which included 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns.
It’s unlikely that Reynolds and Donovan Peoples-Jones, who were acquired before the previous year’s trade deadline, will return to Motown in 2024 as unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Let’s quickly review the wide receivers’ contract status from their time spent with the Lions in 2023.
St. Brown, Amon-Ra
With one more year remaining on his rookie contract, the All-Pro wide receiver will have $1,251,315 counted against the quota in 2024.
Under his contract, he has a pitiful $196,315 in guarantees remaining.
Williams Jameson
Williams, a 2023 second-year pro, has a contract with Detroit through 2025 (or possibly 2026, if his team option for the following season is exercised). The Alabama product will have a $4,762,307 cap hit in 2024.
His rookie deal has $4,939,742 in guarantees left.
Josh Miller
Reynolds is expected to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after having the finest season of his Lions career. In 2023, the Texas A&M recruit caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns.
Reynolds is one of Goff’s favorite and most trustworthy targets, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Brad Holmes sign a new deal with him.
Raymond Kalif
Raymond is a valuable special teams player and reserve wide receiver who is signed with the Lions through the 2025 campaign. In 2024, he will count $3.25 million against the cap.
Furthermore, he still has $6,050,000 in guarantees left on his existing contract.
Donovan Jones-Peoples
Detroit native Peoples-Jones was acquired during the trade deadline of the previous year. He caught five balls for 58 yards (on seven targets) in his little playing time.
This offseason, the 25-year-old will be a free agent without restrictions.
Antoine Green
Green, a seventh-round selection by the Lions in April of last year, concluded his rookie season playing on Detroit’s 53-man roster. He is under contract through the 2026 campaign, and in 2024, $944,190 will be deducted from his cap.
His rookie deal has guarantees of $87,570 left
Fourth in terms of dead cap money owed is Lions
Kennedy, Tom
Kennedy, a beloved player among Lions supporters, concluded the 2023 season as a member of the practice squad. Right now, he has a “futures contract” signed.
Recall that contracts signed by unrestricted free agents, like Kennedy, are considered futures deals and are not deducted from the salary cap until March 13, the start of free agency.
Kennedy will result in a $985,000 cap hit for Detroit in 2024.
Alexander Maurice
Kennedy and Alexander, who both lined up for the Lions in 2022, are in similar circumstances. He got a futures contract after finishing the 2023 season on Detroit’s practice squad.
He has a $915,000 cap hit with him.
Fountain Daurice
Fountain signed a futures contract and finished 23 as a member of Detroit’s practice squad, similar to Kennedy and Alexander.
In 2024, he will deduct $1,055,000 from the cap.
Smith Tre’Quan
Smith concluded the previous season with the Denver Broncos practice squad. He began his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and played for them for the first five seasons. He played for Denver in just one regular-season game.
The former Saints wide receiver signed a futures contract with the Lions earlier this month. This next season, $985K will be deducted from his cap.
Jones, Marvin Jr.
The duration of Jones’ second term in Detroit (2016–2020) was significantly shorter than his first.
The seasoned wide receiver was released from the squad midway through the previous campaign due to personal concerns. During his brief second tenure with the Lions, he participated in just six games and managed a pitiful five receptions for 35 yards.
In 2024, he is projected to spend $800,000 over the limit.
