3 cuts for the Detroit Lions to possibly clear more than $25 million in cap space
1. OLB Trey Flowers
Lions general manager Brad Holmes may have said it all when he lauded Flowers’ intangibles without mention of his on-field production during his season-wrap up press conference.
"Yeah, you know Trey, you’re talking about the ultimate glue guy, ultimate leader,” “He’s what we’re all about, in terms of grit and being just a football player. So it was unfortunate what he had to deal with, but again, those discussions are going to be forward down the road.”"
Over the last two seasons with the Lions, Flowers has 3.5 sacks over 14 total games. When he landed on IR back in early December, ending his season, it became very easy to question his future in Detroit.
Flowers carries cap hits of $23.2 and $23.6 million for the final two years of his contract. A pre-June 1 cut this year clears close to $10.4 million in cap space, with the rest (around $12.85 million) left behind in dead money.
Designating Flowers a post-June 1 cut would create $16 million in cap space, with $7.2 million in dead money left behind. A trade is a little more helpful in terms of cleared cap space, on either side of June 1, and if last trade deadline is to be believed there may be an offseason market for the veteran edge rusher.
Cutting Flowers seems to be on the Lions’ radar. With very few bad contracts on their balance sheet, doing so is the path to clearing the biggest chunk of cap space.
Other possible cuts for Lions to create 2022 cap space (however likely or unlikely): DE Michael Brockers, S/CB Will Harris, QB Jared Goff, WR Trinity Benson
