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Starting 2014 cap number: $134.9 million, 51 rostered
Extensions
Ndamukong Suh: 5 years, $59 million, $15 million signing bonus - saves $7.8 million
Re-Structure:
Calvin Johnson: convert $4 million to signing bonus - saves $4.2 million - this should be the last year the Lions need to play with CJ's contract to get through the mega rookie deals of Stafford, Suh, and CJ.
Nate Burleson: paycut to minimum $955k. Saves $4.5 million.
Cap after extensions: $119.4 million
Trades
Louis Delmas: To Buffalo for their 4th rounder. Jim Schwartz brings his guy to Buffalo to shore up their secondary as Jairus Byrd opts to go elsewhere and Buffalo probably can’t afford to franchise him again. They can afford Delmas after they give him an extension. Saves $6 million.
Rob Sims: To the Giants for their 5th rounder. The Giants need a lot of help across the o-line, and guard is no exception. They bring in Sims at an affordable price and he’ll give them a solid 3-4 years. Saves $2.6 million.
Cap after trades: $109.8 million
Re-signings
Joique Bell: 3 years, $9 million, $3 million signing bonus
Chris Greenwood: 1 year, $645,000
Don Muhlbach: 1 year, $955,000
Jeremy Ross: 1 year, $645,000
Dominic Raiola: 2 years, $3.2 million, $1 million signing bonus
Jason Fox: 1 year, $730,000
Willie Young: 4 years, $10 million, $4 million signing bonus
Cap after re-signings: $118 million
Free agency
Eric Decker brings a big border receiver to Matthew Stafford to pair with Calvin Johnson. Decker will provide a worthy presence in the offense and is a massive upgrade over Durham. While the cost is high, it will prove to be worthwhile in getting this team where it needs to be. 4 years, $24.8 million, $10m signing bonus.
T.J. Ward is an upgrade over Delmas in consistency and control. He and Quin will be the balance of the secondary and they will prove to be one of the NFL’s best SS / FS duos under Teryl Austin. These two guys will be charged with leading and communicating the young cornerbacks on the roster. 4 years, $26 million, $8m signing bonus.
Brett Kiesel is rumored to have interest in coming to Detroit, and adequately will fill the role vacated by Andre Fluellen with veteran leadership. 2 years, $2 million
John Jerry provides a backup role at guard on either side and will push Rodney Austin at LG. 1 years, $730k
Cap after free agency: $129.5 million
The NFL Draft
1) Dennard provides the strong, physical corner that Austin wants in his scheme. He should step in and start right away, with Houston and Slay battling it out for the #2 corner job. Bentley retains his nickel spot assuming he’s recovered from his concussion. Greenwood and Green provide solid depth behind them.
2) Van Noy steps in as an aggressor and agitator for Teryl Austin’s more aggressive 4-3 defense. Paired with Tulloch and Levy, a fearsome front 7 is created for the Lions’ defense, which should remain great against the run and improve vs. the pass. He is an every down linebacker, so he gives the Lions a lot of versatility and unpredictability on 3rd down.
3) Richburg is the successor to Raiola. It sounds like he needs to put on a little bit of lower body strength and perhaps some weight, but his technique is sound coming out of college and should be able to take over for Raiola very soon, and definitely fill in for him in his rookie year in case of an injury.
4a) C.J. Fiedorowicz has the all-around game necessary to step in for the departed Brandon Pettigrew right away. Fiedorowicz should possess better ball security than Pettigrew did and provides similar abilities in blocking and after the catch talent.
4b) Robert Herron had a solid pre-draft showing and provides the Lions with a strong, capable slot option who will be able to dice it up underneath with Decker and Johnson providing a scary threat over the top. Herron, Burleson, and Isles will share time underneath. The Lions’ offense with a refined Matthew Stafford becomes one of the league’s best.
6a) Tre Boston will be a special teamer in his first year, providing a fiery backup to either of Quin or Ward. Supposedly he has an attitude similar to Delmas, and from what I’ve watched his talent doesn’t look too far off. The Lions get a solid backup / ST’er at a good price.
6b) Catanzaro is an accurate kicker and should provide the answer to Jason Hanson’s departure. The Lions add another starter in what is turning out to be a pretty good draft, and paired with Martin look like a very bright future for the Lions’ special teams.
7) Vaughan possesses great size, good arm strength and decent pocket mechanics for a small schooler. He will be the developmental guy for the new coaching staff and should eventually take over number 2 duties ahead of Kellen Moore.
UDFA / practice squadders:
Chidera Uzo-Diribe, DE – Colorado
Austin Wentworth, G – Fresno State
Jordan Najvar, TE – Baylor
Zach Moore, DE/DT – Concordia St. Paul
Est. Cap after draft signings: $135.5 million
Releases
Ryan Broyles
DeJon Gomes
Leroy Harris
Cory Greenwood
Patrick Edwards
Corey Fuller
Cody Wilson
Giorgio Tavecchio
John Potter
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
Steven Miller
Jon Morgan
Brandon Hepburn
Xavier Proctor
Jimmy Saddler-McQueen
Saves $9.5 million
Est. Cap after draft signings: $126.7 million
Est. Cap: $126.5 million
I trust the Lions can free up the extra $200k somewhere.
Depth Chart
QB: Stafford / Moore / Vaughan
RB: Bush / Bell / Riddick / Leshoure / Owens
WR: Johnson / Burleson
TE: Fiedorowicz / Fauria / Williams
LT: Reiff / Hilliard
LG: Austin / Jerry
C: Raiola / Richburg
RG: Warford
RT: Waddle / Fox
Slot: Herron / Isles
WR: Decker / Ross
----------------------------------------
DE: Ansah / Taylor
DT: Suh / Mosley
DT: Fairley / Kiesel
DE: Young / Jones
OLB: Levy / Whitehead
MLB: Tulloch / Lewis
OLB: Van Noy / Palmer
CB: Dennard / Greenwood / Green
SS: Ward / Carey
FS: Quin / Boston
Nickel: Bentley
CB: Houston / Slay
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