"Recognize, you're just moving those cap obligations into the future, kicking the can down the road. Don't fall for the trap of analysts saying the Lions can or should restructure all the deals to maximize their immediate cap space, because it would only harm their ability to sign & retain players in the future. At the very least, l'd anticipate Goff restructuring. The Lions might not need to do more than that to execute their offseason plan."

28 comments

  1. At some point in the next 10 years, we’re gonna be a 3 win team, that’s when you take the all the cap hits.

  2. I don’t see Penei or St Brown being here short term. McNeil, sure. So I’d restructure them with Goff.

  3. They should restructure Goff, Sewell and St. Brown to the maximum extent possible. The cap is going up over $20 million a year so those future cap hits will be cheaper as a % of the cap than they are now. We also have everyone in their prime now- this is the time to really go for it. They shouldn’t touch Alim’s contract because of how he played last year and they could get out of his contract if needed in 2027.

  4. Everyone knows you’re kicking the can down the road by doing this – that’s not news to anyone. Even given that fact, it’s still an enticing option.

  5. I was in this protect the cap group….but no longer. Your chances are small. Unless you have all time elite QB, you aren’t thinking long term.

    Go get it now.

  6. All the talk of windows for this team become real when the void year cap hits start piling up. It’s inevitable at some point, but the longer they can hold it off, the better for the long term success.

  7. the time is now. next year our schedule is easy. we have a few problems that need to be solved. best center in the league is on the market. best top 5 edge rusher says he wants to be in detroit. there will me no better time then now. now is the time to move with urgency. yes it kicks the cap down the road but also the cap is expect to widen by a lot. these guys are good. trade them or restructure there can be no inbetween. the time is now.

  9. I feel confident in Saint and Sewell signing 3rd contracts with the Lions so I have no problem kicking the can down the road for those two. Alim should not be restructured after his poor play coming back from the injury this past season.

  10. Its normal to restructure a deal here and there, especially with QB contracts. However Multiple years of restructuring multiple deals just because you can is how you end up like the Saints.

  11. I’ll be fine with restructuring all except Alim. I do not want to be stuck with him if he looks anything like he did this season.

  12. Honestly, makes sense. The Lions are scheduled for a ton of cap going forward, but no reason to blow it all. But we do have some needs to fill and restructuring Goff makes sense to help fill those needs for what we can’t realistically draft for. We have to figure out S, LT, C, and Edge this offseason.

  13. I would restructure Goff and Sewell. Sewell I think you’re safe with for at least a decade. And we are tied to Goff might as well maximize his peak.

  14. Void years have become real popular in NFL contracts. The Eagles are going to owe $427 million from 2026-2033. Teams that go heavy on void year deferrals banking that the cap increases will help limit the damage. Kind of seems like cheating to me lol. That said, i wouldnt necessarily be opposed to the Lions mortgaging away a couple years to win a SB. Doesn’t always work though, just ask the Browns. Saints are a mess now but theyre the ones who popularized this strategy with Drew Brees…got them a SB.

    Baseball is even worse. Ohtanis 10yr/$700m contract? He’ll only make $20m during those 10 years ($2m/year) with the remaining $680m paid out over 10 years after the contract ends. Without a cap the top spending teams can do goofy things like that.

    Edit: speaking of deferred money, just read that Justin Verlander signed a 1 year / $13m deal with the Tigers with a little deferred money

  15. Honestly, just do it. Our window is closing. Go all in now and give us at least one ring in our lifetimes.

  16. We’d be fools to not do this. You can’t just keep saying worry about the future every year, because eventually the team is gonna suck again and people will say why didn’t they ever really go for it? Fuck the cap. It’s not real.

  19. I’d anticipate Goff and Amon-Ra to get done.

    I think we are grossly underestimating how much the cap will rise when the NFL signs new TV deals.

  20. I love how even when the original post is clearly saying that the answer is a middle ground between the two extremes, this entire thread is just people saying either restructure everything or nothing. People: Goff restructure is obvious and going to happen. Everything after that depends on what the team can do in free agency. E.g., if Linderbaum actually somehow makes it to free agency, go ahead and restructure st. Brown and Sewell to give him whatever it takes obviously. But if he doesn’t and there isn’t anyone that warrants that type of deal, then obviously don’t restructure anyone else

  21. We sucked for my entire life plus 10 years. I’m willing to trade a couple more uncompetitive years for a Super Bowl in my lifetime.

  22. amon ra st butter does not deserve 20 million a year to say stupid shit on his podcast and lead the league in drops 

  23. If Goff is serious he’ll take a restructure. How do you think Brady’s SB teams were able to field so many top 10 defenses?

  24. It’s just a continuous can being kicked. It worked out pretty well for the Chiefs with Mahomes

  27. Normally I’m not a fan of just kicking things down the road and letting it be tomorrow’s problem, but I’d be fine being shit in the future, if we did everything in our power and won a Super Bowl or two now.

  28. We are in a win right now window. Now. Get us a damn Super Bowl. I don’t want to die listening to “in another five years”. Fuck. I’ve been hearing that since I was a little kid. (Context, the early 80’s are a long time ago now, fella’s)

    We have most of the parts. Do what you need to do to get us the rest of the way. Do what great GM’s do and make it work. If the front office and coaching staff can’t get us there now, when’s it going to happen?

    All I see is excuses for them. We’ve already given them excuses for giving away a trip to the Super Bowl. Now we can’t make the damn playoffs.

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