Detroit Lions salary cap space update heading into Week 2 of free agency

After a week of across the spectrum free agency moves, from big to small, here’s where the Detroit Lions sit in terms of salary cap space.

The Detroit Lions have had quite a first week of NFL free agency. Bolstering a secondary that needed a lot of help was a focus (Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, C.J. Gardner-Johnson), but singing David Montgomery to replace Jamaal Williams was a very notable move and there were some re-signings too (Alex Anzalone, John Cominsky, Will Harris).

Here are the 2023 cap hits for many of the Lions’ signings as of Monday afternoon, Mar. 20.

Cam Sutton- $3,280,000
David Montgomery- $2,845,588
Alex Anzalone- $2,500,000
John Cominsky- $2,300,000
Isaiah Buggs- $1,700,000
Matt Nelson- $1,300,000
Will Harris- $1,232,500
Michael Badgley-$1,092,500
Jake McQuaide-$1,092,500
Ross Pierschbacher- $1,010,000
Craig Reynolds- $940,000
C.J. Gardner-Johnnson-TBD
Emmanuel Moseley- TBD
Graham Glasgow- TBD
C.J. Moore-TBD

Moseley and Glasgow’s deals were each one year, reported at $6 million and $4.5 million respectively. Those are certainly maximum value numbers, with structure and 2023 cap hits to be unveiled. Gardner-Johnson is also coming in on a one-year deal, worth up to $8 million with $6.5 million fully guaranteed, while Moore is coming back on a two-year, $4.5 million deal ($3 million fully guaranteed).

Detroit Lions salary cap space update entering Week 2 of free agency

With the above considerations coming to reduce the number in the coming days, Over The Cap has the Lions with $26.7 milion in cap space and $18.37 million in effective cap space when accounting for signing their current draft picks.

That $26.7 million, updated with the pay cut Romeo Okwara agreed to, is the second-most cap space in the league.

Hypothetically, let’s total up the 2023 cap hits for the yet-unaccounted for signings to $10-$12 million. The Lions would still be top half of the league in cap space, with one significant remaining option (Halapoulivaati Vaitai) to restructure, renegotiate (he takes a big pay cut) or cut to clear cap room.

So even after a week of some significant outside signings and some prioritized re-signings, the Lions are still in pretty good position to make additions in subsequent waves of free agency.