Looking ahead to the offseason, who should the Detroit Lions absolutely avoid signing to a contract extension?
At 1-11-1 entering Sunday, the Detroit Lions can’t be blamed for having some eye on the offseason as an organization. Draft scouting is obviously going on, with the pre-draft process still ahead to hone the 2022 prospect board for general manager Brad Holmes.
The Lions should take another step in their rebuild next season, however that looks from a record perspective. In terms of getting to the playoffs, 2023 might be realistic. But the table can be set for that in the 2022 offseason, with decisions to make on plenty of current players and how they fit into the future and with outside signings to make along with the draft. Right now, Detroit has around $39 million in cap space for 2022 (according to Over The Cap).
But with an eye on current players who are under contact through at least 2023, here are three players the Lions should not sign to a contract extension in the 2022 offseason.
3 players the Detroit Lion should not sign to a contract extension in 2022 offseason
3. DE Michael Brockers
Upon acquiring Brockers from the Rams last offseason, the Lions gave him a new three-year, $24 million contract ($11 million fully guaranteed). To say the soon-to-be 31-year old has had a disappoint season would be an understatement, and at this point he’s just taking up snaps that could go to younger players (even with a downward trend in playing time lately).
Brockers could be dangled as a trade candidate in the offseason, and that would create more cap relief than cutting him. But it’s possible the Lions are just stuck with him next season, with the final year of his contract coming (with easier paths to part ways) in 2023.
However it looks for Brockers this offseason, the Lions aren’t going to extend their tie to him past it’s furthest away end point.