On Bleacher Report’s list of the NFL’s worst contracts, there is some ex-Detroit Lions flavor.
As the 2022 NFL offseason nears, talk of salary cap space along with free agency rumors and trade speculation is ready to ramp up. The Detroit Lions currently sit in the top half of the league in cap space, albeit without much extra coming via rollover from 2021.
Any look at a team’s cap situation involves a look at bad contracts they might have. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has tabbed the worst contract for each NFL team heading into the offseason. and there’s certainly a bit of former Lions flavor on it.
We’ll go in alphabetical order, citing a bit of what Ballentine wrote for each. Note: “expires in” means through the previous season–example: “Expires in 2024″=when the player will be a free agent.
Denver Broncos: OG Graham Glasnow
"The Contract: Four years, $44 million. Expires in 2024.It’s hard to fault a team for investing in the offensive line. Especially when they’re trying to figure out their quarterback situation, but Graham Glasgow has clearly not been worth the investment.First of all, the 28-year-old has struggled to stay in the lineup for the Broncos. After starting 13 games in 2020, he has only been in the lineup for seven in 2021. Even when he has played it hasn’t been great.He has posted a pedestrian 65.1 grade from PFF this season. Both Dalton Risner and rookie Quinn Meinerz have posted better marks. The difference is that those two will cost the team around $3.3 million next season while Glasgow’s contract is much more costly."
Glasnow was a third-round pick by the Lions in 2016. He started 58 games over four seasons, across all three interior line spots. He left for Denver and a four-year, $44 million deal in 2020.
Los Angeles Rams: DT A’Shawn Robinson
"The Contract: Three years, $18 million. Expires in 2023.This one isn’t necessarily egregious, it just doesn’t provide the Rams with the kind of value you’d like to see.Robinson is a fine player. He was PFF’s 22nd-graded interior defender in 2021 and at 26 years old, he still has plenty of tread on the tires.But with his cap hit nearly doubling in 2022 at $9.5 million, the Rams should consider figuring out a way to mitigate that hit. That could come in the form of an extension, considering Robinson’s strong play.However, the Rams are dishing out big money to several stars. Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey all carry cap hits over $20 million. Even a slight overpay to someone like Robinson can make it difficult for them to have the cap room they’ll need to get better in 2022"
Robinson was also drafted by the Lions in 2016, in the second round. He played in 58 games and started 37 for Detroit over four seasons.
The Lions’ best decision last offseason? further verified
And last but not least…
New York Giants: WR Kenny Golladay
The Contract: Four years, $72 million. Expires in 2025.
"The Giants are just one year into the massive contract they signed wide receiver Kenny Golladay to in the offseason, but it’s not looking good.By annual average value, Golladay’s contract is tied with Tyreek Hill as the sixth-most lucrative in the league.Needless to say, the Giants aren’t getting a Hill-like impact for their investment. Golladay’s first campaign in New York yielded just 37 catches for 521 yards and no touchdowns. The receiver has already acknowledged it’s not good enough."
It’s safe to say making little effort to bring Golladay back is among the best decisions Lions general manager Brad Holmes made in his first offseason on the job. Paying anyone huge money in free agency would have been a risky move going into a rebuild, and Golladay was set to cash in. The book is not written on Golladay reaching his full potential in New York, but the first year was downright bad (37 catches in 14 games).
As for the Lions’ worst contract according to Ballentine? That honor goes to Trey Flowers, with two years left on his five-year, $90 million.