MLB fans, avert your eyes.
The NFL is set to announce a pretty significant increase to the salary cap for each team in 2026, pushing the cap from $279.2 million in 2025 to somewhere between $301.2 million to $305.7 million per team, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is, surely, cheering at this news. The team is set to face down some pretty huge decisions as it pertains to pre- and post-June 1 cuts, trades, and restructuring in order to clear up some more cap room. As it stands and with this news in mind, the Lions' cap room has gone from -$16 million to anywhere between -$6 million and -$12 million.
We know: not exactly celebration-worthy on paper. But, it also means slightly less manuevering is needed from Holmes to clear up cap space this offseason, and any money win is something worth talking about.
Lions get a small win thanks to NFL's projected 2026 cap space
Detroit is one of a few teams set to benefit from this surprisingly large cap increase. Their NFC North rivals in the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears are going to get some money back, but the Vikings remain in cap purgatory with a nearly league-low -$48.9 million available before this new cap projection has hit the books, per Over the Cap.
The Lions' biggest needs are mostly at positions that might not require big spending: left tackle, center, edge rusher, and safety. They could find some legitimate starting talent at tackle and center in this year's draft, which is great, but they're going to need some major cash flow in order to supplant their need at the pass rush and at safety.
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Pass rushing is where things could get complicated for the Lions, when it really shouldn't. The team should be looking to pay Al-Quadin Muhammad and Roy Lopez this offseason, if possible, and finding extra money by way of this adjustment should be a celebrated thing.
Any little bit helps. Holmes hasn't been known to make huge signings in recent seasons, and has mostly relied on his ability to have drafted very well with the picks sent over to Detroit by way of the Matthew Stafford trade. If he can find a way to open up a significant amount of cap space this offseason through restructurings and strategic cuts, Detroit has a fighting chance in free agency.