4 moves the Detroit Lions can make to clear $40 million in salary cap space

The Detroit Lions added some noticeable dead money to their 2024 balance sheet with contract voids that took effect on Feb. 16. But in the big picture they are still doing very well, with $44.8 million in cap space right now (eighth-most in the league, according to Over The Cap) and a path to adding some more via contract restructures if they want to pursue that.

The Lions don't really have to do anything to to clear more cap room. But if a big move to add a veteran at a position of significant need is on the radar, and that is a massive "if" given the mode general manager Brad Holmes has shown, In general though, there's no thing as too much cap space if there are plans to spend.

There are some current players who could be cut to clear space (it's not a long list though), even with some dead money implications on the back end.

The Lions could nearly double their current cap space with four fairly simple moves, and all are more likely to happen than not.

Note: All financial numbers are via Over The Cap.

How the Lions can clear $40 million in additional 2024 cap space

4. Cut John Cominsky (pre-June 1)

Cominsky was a revelation for the Lions in 2022, going from a summertime waiver claim to a key piece of the defensive line with four sacks, 12 quarterback hits and five tackles for loss. He was a virtual no-brainer to be re-signed, and he was brought back on a two-year deal.

Cominsky played in 16 games and started 11 contests in 2023. But he had just two sacks, then he was a surprising healthy scratch for the regular season finale. Over 97 postseason snaps (all three games), he was not impactful.

Cutting Cominsky would clear $4.6 million in cap space, with $1.7 million left behind in dead money.

2024 added cap space tally: $4.6 million

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