Updating the Lions salary cap after the recent moves
The Detroit Lions have been active in the free agency market, signing several players and trimming others off the roster in the last few weeks. How has the free agency activity impacted the Lions salary cap situation?
A quick look at three different sources shows the Lions have around $22 million in cap room remaining for 2021. The discrepancies between the three sources–the NFLPA, Spotrac and Over The Cap–come from the reported deals and the way bonuses, timing and total salary are calculated.
Over the Cap pegs the Lions with $22,229,715 as of April 13th. Spotrac has Detroit with a little more room at $22,508,116. The NFLPA’s public report on the 13th lists Detroit with $21,124,337.
The figure ranks sixth among the NFL’s 32 teams in available cap room, no matter the source. Detroit could spend some on free agents, likely after the 2021 NFL draft, or roll over the excess amount to 2022 and target free agents and potential contract extensions at that point.
