Lions News

[Futureshock]

Chemistry is taken for granted but is intrical

[Mainevent]

Cominsky was almost a given, but the longer it dragged out the more worried I would have gotten that somebody was going to overpay him. So glad to see him back.

[ghandi]

Cominsky takes the pressure off from having to take an edge with the 6th pick...If thats still the best player on the board, then fine but its not a huge weakness like it would be without him...>Same with the CB signings...Now they arent forced to take one of them at 6 (which seemed a little high for this crop of DBs)....The draft seems to work much better when you can draft BPA instead of having to fill a gaping hole in the roster.

[JGSpartan]

I definitely get the feeling Jamaal Wlliams will be on his way out. Unless the interest he's supposed to be getting is all BS. We might see a price tag that's a little too rich.

OR he gets lots of offers but no high dollar ones and just stays at a reasonable amount.

[Futureshock]

The plan (as the Lions' bras stated) was for him to get offers and the Lions would discuss with him. Maybe, teams don't want to play this game or he may have an offer(s) but they're trying to work it out.

[jaadam4]

Cominsky was almost a given, but the longer it dragged out the more worried I would have gotten that somebody was going to overpay him. So glad to see him back.

Thats how I saw it as well. I pictured his agent getting pissed when he put all his cards on the table at the end of the year telling the Lions to "lets run it back". It took a lot of his negotiating power away but f it. The kid likes it here and we like him

[froot loops]

I'm sure Jamaal Williams is waiting to see if GM A-Aron can get him the bag in New York.

[jaadam4]

I wouldn’t hold it against him.

I think Erin is one of the all time greats but like Favre and Brady he’s going to hang on for too long. GB really screwed him the last few years IMO with not building a better team around the offense but that makes me happy

[jaadam4]

Basically, his arm is done IMO

[ghandi]

Well the Jets have a great defense and will give him whatever he asks so he may be able to win there...but it is most likely a pretty short window....It is surprising he couldn't even put up decent numbers against a poor Lions defense in either game last year.

[whatever_gong82]

I know that this was posted earlier but I'm adding more info to the story:

After Week 18 heartbreak, Detroit Lions want NFL to allow challenges on personal foul penalties

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press


When NFL owners get together later this month to discuss rules proposals, several of the changes they will be considering will have a distinct Detroit Lions feel.

The Lions submitted three of the nine playing rules proposals on the ballot at the NFL's annual spring meeting, and one of the two bylaw proposals up for consideration.

The proposals relate to expanding instant replay, what coaches can challenge and teams' game day rosters. The Lions are asking NFL owners to:



* Allow clubs to designate and use an emergency third quarterback from its inactive list or practice squad in the event its first two quarterbacks are ruled out during a game because of injury.


* Permit coaches to challenge personal fouls that are called on the field.


* Grant teams a third challenge when one of their first two challenges is successful (instead of both).

∙ And allow replay officials to consult with on-field officials about penalties.

The playing rules proposals were submitted to better balance competitive equity and to ensure the integrity of the game.




The Lions finished 9-8 last season, their first winning record in five years, but missed the playoffs after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams in controversial fashion in Week 18.

The Seahawks tied that game with a 16-play, fourth-quarter drive that was kept alive by a questionable running-into-the-kicker penalty. Two series later, Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was called for unnecessary roughness. Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf retaliated by poking his hand into Ramsey's face but was not penalized, and Seattle missed the game-winning kick at the end of regulation.

In overtime, Seahawks safety and ex-Lion Quandre Diggs intercepted a Baker Mayfield pass to set up the winning field goal and was not penalized after he taunted the Rams sideline following the pick.

Had the Rams beat the Seahawks, the Lions, who privately expressed frustration at officiating in the game, would have earned the NFC's final wild card spot after they beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 18's Sunday night game.

The Lions also are one of 25 teams asking the NFL to go to one preseason cut, from 90 to 53 players following the third preseason game. Currently, teams reduce their rosters from 90 to 85, then 80 players before cutting to 53.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets and Houston Texans also made playing rules proposals that will be voted on in Arizona later this month. The proposals range from replacing an onside kick attempt with a fourth-and-20 conversion try, to allowing instant replay or a coach's challenge for roughing the passer penalties.

To pass, any rules proposal requires approval by 24 of the league's 32 teams.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions using voidable years to keep new CB Cam Sutton's cap hit down in 2023

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press


The Detroit Lions used one of their favorite methods to maximize current-year cap space with their newest big-ticket signing.

The Lions included two voidable years at the end of new cornerback Cam Sutton's contract, according to details of the deal filed with the NFL Players Association and first published by A to Z Sports.

Sutton's three-year, $33 million deal includes a $10.9 million signing bonus and low first-year base salary of $1.1 million.

With two extra voidable years to spread the signing bonus proration, Sutton will carry a cap hit of just $3.28 million in 2023.

The Lions entered the free agent negotiating period with about $21 million in cap space and freed up an additional $5 million Tuesday by converting some of safety Tracy Walker's $8.95 million base salary to signing bonus, according to ESPN.

Signing bonuses are treated differently than base salary for cap purposes. While a player's full base salary counts against that year's cap, signing bonuses are spread evenly over the life of the contract, up to five years.


Sutton's deal includes base salaries of $10.5 million in 2024-25, with $9 million of next year's salary fully guaranteed and the rest becoming guaranteed on the third day of the 2024 league year.

While the Lions are counting on Sutton to be their No. 1 cornerback this fall, he will count less against the cap than Jeff Okudah, who has a $10.7 million cap hit as the No. 3 pick of the 2020 NFL draft.

The Lions have used dummy years to minimize their first-year cap charges on a number of big signings in recent years, including receiver DJ Chark (who signed a one-year, $10 million contract last spring with two voidable years) and defensive end Romeo Okwara (who got a three-year, $37 million deal with one void year).



In theory, that allows the team to make bigger or more investments in their current team while taking advantage of a rising future salary cap. But the downside to using voidable years is they leave teams with dead cap hits after a player's contract expires. Chark, who will be an unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. Wednesday, will count about $6 million against the Lions cap in 2023 in dead money.

If Sutton plays out his entire deal in Detroit, the Lions will have a dead cap hit of $4.36 million in 2026 from his contract.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.




Inside the numbers

Here are the full details of Sutton's deal:

2023

Base salary: $1.1 million Signing bonus: $10.9 million Total cash: $12 million Cap hit: $3.28 million


2024

Base salary: $10.5 million Cap hit: $13.08 million

2025

Base salary: $10.5 million Cap hit: $13.08 million

2026

Dead money: $4.36 million

[whatever_gong82]

Structure of Cameron Sutton's contract agreement with Detroit Lions revealed

Published 11:02 a.m. ET March 14, 2023

On Monday, it was reported the Detroit Lions had reached an agreement with Pittsburgh
Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton. The three-year pact was reportedly worth $33 million.
The structure of that contract is now available through NFLPA records.

The deal includes a $10.9 million signing bonus and two voidable years, allowing that bonus
money to spread out across five seasons, instead of three, for cap purposes.



In 2023, Sutton will carry a modest $3.28 million cap hit, the combination of a $1.1 million
base salary and the $2.18 million proration of his signing bonus (one-fifth of $10.9 million).
Sutton's cap hit balloons to $12.68 million each of the two following seasons, with his base
salary jumping to $10.5 million in 2024 and 2025.

The way the contract is structured, he is all but assured to be on the roster for at least two
seasons. In 2024, $9 million of the $10.5 million base salary is guaranteed. And in 2025, the
contract will still have $6.54 million in dead money, tied to the remaining cap hits from the
signing bonus (three-fifths of $10.9 million).



Assuming Sutton remains in Detroit for the full duration of the contract, the Lions will still
be on the hook for a $4.36 million cap hit in 2026, due to the prorated portions of the signing
bonus attached to the two voidable years in the contract. That cap charge remains whether he
re-signs with the team or not.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions trying to keep OL intact; resign Matt Nelson, await word on Evan Brown

Dave Birkett

The Detroit Free Press

Published 11:33 a.m. ET March 14, 2023


The Detroit Lions kept another one of their own free agents off the market Tuesday, resigning backup offensive tackle Matt Nelson.
Nelson has been a key reserve for a Lions offensive line that's ranked among the best in the
NFL the past two years.


He started 11 games in 2021, playing both left and right tackle, and made 11 appearances as
the team's swing tackle last season.


Nelson was eligible for restricted free agency this week, but the Lions declined to tender him
a right of first refusal offer of $2.627 million. Absent a new contract, he would have been an
unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. Wednesday.


Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2019, Nelson spent a year
transitioning from defensive line to offensive tackle on the Lions practice squad before
playing as a sixth lineman in 2020.


The Lions will return at least four of their five offensive line starters this fall: Left tackle
Taylor Decker, left guard Jonah Jackson, center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell.



Evan Brown, who started 24 games the past two seasons at center and right guard, is one of
the top interior linemen scheduled to hit the market Wednesday, while Halapoulivaati
Vaitai's future is uncertain after he missed all of last season following back surgery and given
his $9.4 million contract for 2023.



On Monday, the Lions re-signed two of their top unrestricted free agents, linebacker Alex
Anzalone and nosetackle Isaiah Buggs, tendered contracts to five exclusive rights free agents
and re-signed running back Craig Reynolds on a one-year deal. They also agreed to a three-year deal with Pittsburgh Steelers free agent cornerback Cam Sutton.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett

[whatever_gong82]

Lions re-sign offensive tackle Matt Nelson

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News

Published 10:29 a.m. ET March 14, 2023


Allen Park — The Detroit Lions announced Tuesday they've re-signed offensive tackle Matt
Nelson.


Initially signed by the team as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2019, the Lions
immediately converted Nelson from a defensive lineman to an offensive tackle. He spent his
rookie year on the team's practice squad, before making the 53-man roster out of training
camp in 2020.


Nelson started his first game in Week 14 of that season and would go on to start nine games
as an injury replacement in 2021 (earning two additional starts as a tight end in a six lineman formation). He played sparingly last year while battling a calf injury, seeing just 70 offensive snaps as a sixth lineman in heavy formations.


Nelson is positioned to compete for Detroit's swing-tackle role behind starters Taylor Decker
and Penei Sewell. The team also has young tackles Darrin Paulo and Obinna Eze under
contract.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers