A closer look at the David Montgomery contract extension

The night before their Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Detroit Lions agreed to a reported two-year, $18.25 million contract extension ($10.5 million guaranteed) with running back David Montgomery. Overall it's fairly against the grain, about halfway through his original three-year deal and extending him through his age-30 season. Not many, if any, teams would do that with a running back.

Of course initial reports of contract details are usually firmly rooted in PR spin that national reporters engage in to continue getting scoops from agents. The finer details of Montgomery's new contract would come out.

Over The Cap has the details, with some notes.

"David Montgomery signed a two year, $18.25 million contract extension with the Lions. $10.49 million is guaranteed including a $3,25 million signing bonus. The contract has annual per game bonuses. A void year is included for salary cap purposes. The extension lowered his cap number in 2024 by about $1.7 million. His 2025 cap number will increase by about $1.25 million as a result of the extension."

David Montgomery contract details: Annual cap numbers, etc.

Here's what Montgomery's new deal looks like.

2024

Base salary: $2,270,833 (fully guaranteed)
Prorated signing bonus: $2,370,833
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000 (total)
Regular roster bonus: $2,979,167
Cap number: $5,053,041
Dead money: $13,875,000

2025

Base salary: $5,490,000 ($2,000,0000 fully guaranteed)
Prorated signing bonus: $2,370,833
Per-game roster bonus: $510,000 (total; $30,000 per game)
Cap number: $8,370,833
Dead money: $9,233,334

2026

Base salary: $5,490,000
Prorate signing bonus: $2,370,833
Per-game roster bonus: $510,000 (total; $30,000 per game)
Cap number: $8,370,833
Dead money: $4,862,501

2027

Base salary: $7,490,000
Prorated signing bonus: $1,245,833
Per-game roster bonus: $510,000 (total; $30,000 per game)
Regular roster bonus: $1,000,000
Cap number: $10,245,833
Dead money: $2,491,668

2028 (void year)

Prorated signing bonus: $1,245,835
Cap number: $1,245,835

The per-game roster bonuses were not initially reported.

The deal amounts to a one-year extension beyond Montgomery's original contract, with an option for the second year. 2027 is a palatable out for the Lions, as they can clear $7.75 million in cap space with the aforementioned dead money hit just shy of $2.5 million. A restructure could come by then, Montgomery could be let go or he could play out that final year.