Detroit Lions create massive cap space with 2 contract restrucutres

In a significant move to bolster their financial flexibility, the Detroit Lions recently restructured the contracts of two key players, Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown. This strategic decision has created a substantial amount of cap space, which now ranks second among NFL teams, according to Over The Cap. The restructured contracts have resulted in a net gain of nearly $35.7 million in cap space for the 2026 season.

Sewell's contract was reduced from a staggering $28 million in 2026 to $13.12 million, with an added $18.6 million signing bonus spread across the next five years. This restructuring effectively transformed $15 million of Sewell's 2026 salary into a guaranteed cap hit, leaving the remaining years with increased cap hits.

Similarly, St. Brown's contract was adjusted, with $26 million of his $27.5 million salary converted into a signing bonus. This change brought his 2026 cap hit down from $33.11 million to $12.31 million, while adding $5.2 million in cap space for future years.

Although the cap space generated by these restructurings is temporarily moved to future years, the Lions have effectively created $35.7 million in cap space for 2026. This move has left the Lions in a strong financial position, second only to the San Francisco 49ers in terms of cap space, according to Over The Cap.