The Detroit Lions have always been an interesting team to follow, with a loyal fan base and a rich history. However, in recent years, the team has struggled to stay competitive in the NFL. One major factor that has contributed to their struggles is their salary cap situation. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Detroit Lions salary cap space in 2020. We will analyze their current situation, look at some of the key players and contracts on the team, and discuss what the future may hold for the Lions.
The Current Situation
At the start of the 2020 NFL season, the Detroit Lions had a total salary cap of $198.2 million. Of that amount, they had already committed over $181 million to their current roster. This left them with a little over $17 million in cap space to work with. While this may seem like a decent amount, it is actually one of the lowest in the league. The Lions have a number of players with high cap hits, which limits their flexibility when it comes to making moves in free agency or extending contracts.
The Key Players
One of the biggest factors contributing to the Lions' salary cap issues is the large contracts of some of their key players. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, for example, has a cap hit of $31.5 million in 2020. This makes him the third-highest paid player in the league, behind only Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger. While Stafford is a talented quarterback, his high cap hit limits the Lions' ability to add talent around him.
Another player with a large cap hit is defensive end Trey Flowers. Flowers signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Lions in 2019, making him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league. In 2020, his cap hit is $16.7 million. While Flowers is a talented player, his high cap hit limits the Lions' ability to make other moves on defense.
The Future
Looking ahead, the Lions will need to make some tough decisions in order to improve their salary cap situation. One option is to restructure some of their current contracts. This would allow the team to push some of the cap hits into future years, giving them more flexibility in the short term. However, this would also increase the amount of dead money on the team's salary cap in future years, which could limit their ability to make moves down the road.
Another option for the Lions is to make some cuts to their current roster. While this is never an easy decision, it may be necessary in order to free up cap space. There are a few players on the Lions' roster who could be potential candidates for release, such as linebacker Christian Jones or cornerback Desmond Trufant. Cutting these players would free up cap space and allow the team to make other moves in free agency or the draft.
The Draft
Speaking of the draft, this is another area where the Lions will need to be careful with their spending. The team has a number of needs, particularly on defense, but they may not have the cap space to address all of them in free agency. This means that they will need to be strategic with their draft picks, focusing on players who can make an immediate impact without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
The Detroit Lions' salary cap situation in 2020 is a challenging one, but it is not insurmountable. While the team has some large contracts on their books, they also have a number of talented players who can help them win games. The key for the Lions will be to make smart, strategic moves in the years ahead, balancing their desire to win now with their need to stay under the salary cap. If they can do that, there is no reason why the Lions can't once again become a competitive team in the NFL.
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