Detroit Lions create massive cap space with 2 contract restrucutres

Last week, we noted that the Detroit Lions were in danger of starting the 2026 season over the salary cap. They were almost certain to have to restructure a contract or two to not only become cap compliant, but to have enough cap space to potentially make any roster moves during the season.

According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the Lions restructured two contracts, creating so much cap space that they have the second-most cap room of any team in the NFL. The two contracts they adjusted were the two most expected restructures: Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Here’s how the restructures worked:

Previous 2026 salary: $19.9 million salary
New 2026 salary: $1.3 million
Restructured “signing bonus”: $18.6 million

What’s important to note here is that the Lions are not getting rid of cap space, they’re moving it. They took $18.6 million of Sewell’s 2026 salary and converted it to a signing bonus. That bonus now gets spread over the next five years in equal cap hit installment of $3.72 million, and that cap hit is now immovable. It stays there, and it’s guaranteed.

So here were Sewell’s old cap hits:

2026: $28,000,000
2027: $32,000,000
2028: $34,000,000
2029: $27,000,000
2030 (VOID): $0

Now here are his new cap hits:

2026: $13,120,000 (down $14,880,0000)
2027: $35,720,000 (up $3.72M)
2028: $37,720,000 (up $3.72M)
2029: $30,720,000 (up $3.72M)
2030 (VOID): $3,720,000 (up $3.72M)

So, in short, it creates nearly $15 million in cap space this year, while adding nearly $15 million to future years.

The Lions used the exact same tactic with Brown’s contract, converting $26 million of his $27.5 million salary into a signing bonus. Here’s the before and after cap hits of that move:

Before:

2026: $33,110,000
2027: $28,980,000
2028: $26,010,000
2029 (VOID): $16,700,000

After:

2026: $12,310,000 (down $20,800,0000)
2027: $34,180,000 (up $5.2M)
2028: $31,210,000 (up $5.2M)
2029 (VOID): $27,100,000 (up $10.4M)

Note: In 2029, two of the new signing bonus prorations of $5.2 million hit against the cap, although if Detroit opts to extend St. Brown, only $5.2 million would hit in 2029, and the other $5.2 million would stay in 2030 on his new contract.

In total, the Lions created $35,680,000 in cap space for 2026, but, again, that cap space was simply moved to future years, not eliminated entirely.

Per OverTheCap, the Lions now have over $38 million in cap space, second only to the San Francisco 49ers ($45.5M).