Lions 2023 Free Agency

[Gulf of Brazil]

Depending on the structure of Anzelone Lions are looking at anywhere from 20 to 14 million in cap right now. I don't know which FA they may be targeting, but at this point cutting Vaitai/Okwara/Harris is not a need like we had assumed.

I get the feeling Lions are out of the bigger FA market at this point, but I would LOVE if they also signed Bradberry. Turn CB into a strength

Correct in the Okwara and C, Harris ordeal as bodies will be needed for training camp or until they're replaced via the draft, and I doubt that happens anytime soon.

The Vaitai ordeal can be a somewhat poker face card situation.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

No details yet, which is a bummer.

It's still really early as they usually aren't divulged until 3 days or more after being announced.

I was surprised to see Sutton's contract details this early. Someone in his camp must've released those numbers quickly.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I'm still hoping they bring back DeShon Elliot at least for the sake of @broncosmitty
I'm not sure Smitty would survive a year of Lion's football without Elliot.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Isaiah Buggs contract must have 1.5M in money that's LTBE - left to be earned as in bonus monies. I saw that 2-year and 4.5M on Walter Football and that number made sense.

 

[Mebert]

Correct in the Okwara and C, Harris ordeal as bodies will be needed for training camp or until they're replaced via the draft, and I doubt that happens anytime soon.

The Vaitai ordeal can be a somewhat poker face card situation.

I would not mind taking a shot at Trai Turner. He was an elite guard for years, but not so much after leaving the Panthers. Still under 30 so a gamble he recovers his form sitting between Sewell and Ragnow might be worth it. Lets us draft a project guard or 2 to have time to learn.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

On paper, this looks like a doable contract. Dean must not have been a scheme fit or one of the other fits - team, culture, locker room. Bucs have an out in 2025 and a 4.4M cap hit in 2023 and 15.4 in 2024.

Jamel Dean | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Jamel Dean contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

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[Gulf of Brazil]

Lets us draft a project guard or 2 to have time to learn.

This would be a good move. The O-Line depth at OG and OT is scary for us. There are a few options for OT to OG conversion in this upcoming draft and a handful of natural OG to choose.

The Pitt Panther OT seems appealing as a day 3 player to develop. He was injured during the last season in game 4 or 5. Warren only gave up 6 sacks in 4-years.

Carter Warren Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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I do like the OG from Eastern Michigan as a day 3 OG. He played RG his Frosh year and then LG the remaining 4-years. He gave up a total of 9 sacks in 5-years. He could possibly be a replacement down the line if Jonah leaves and that way play his natural position of LG or even start out at RG.

Sidy Sow Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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[Mebert]

This would be a good move. The O-Line depth at OG and OT is scary for us. There are a few options for OT to OG conversion in this upcoming draft and a handful of natural OG to choose.

The Pitt Panther OT seems appealing as a day 3 player to develop. He was injured during the last season in game 4 or 5. Warren only gave up 6 sacks in 4-years.

Carter Warren Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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I do like the OG from Eastern Michigan as a day 3 OG. He played RG his Frosh year and then LG the remaining 4-years. He gave up a total of 9 sacks in 5-years. He could possibly be a replacement down the line if Jonah leaves and that way play his natural position of LG or even start out at RG.

Sidy Sow Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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You know I love to go in on Utes. Braedan Daniels would be a great late round flyer. Crazy smart on the line, played everywhere but center. His technique is sound, makes the right play. He just lacks playing strength to be good at run blocking. Take him late and have him live with the strength coach in a few years you may have a gem.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Holmes and company apparently have talked to Clemson OT McFadden and UCLA OG Atonio Mafi. McFadden was Clemson's starting LT in 2022 and 2021 and their starting RT in 2020. He's short for an OT.

Jordan McFadden Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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Mafi has started at RG and LG for UCLA. Mafi wasn't at the combine and Walter Football posted that he was a private workout.

The Draft Network

TDN

thedraftnetwork.com

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

You know I love to go in on Utes. Braedan Daniels would be a great late round flyer. Crazy smart on the line, played everywhere but center. His technique is sound, makes the right play. He just lacks playing strength to be good at run blocking. Take him late and have him live with the strength coach in a few years you may have a gem.

He was on my list of players to look at and then I saw how light he was. You'd be far more in tune with him than I could ever be. Is he a late late day 3 or possibly an UDFA? His raw combine numbers are damn good.

Braeden Daniels Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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[Mebert]

He was on my list of players to look at and then I saw how light he was. You'd be far more in tune with him than I could ever be. Is he a late late day 3 or possibly an UDFA? His raw combine numbers are damn good.

Braeden Daniels Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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He went into the year looking like a 2nd round pick, but as a 5th year senior could not add enough muscle or weight so he dropped. He will never be a fit for a power run scheme. I would expect him to go 6th to UDFA, but the skills that had him looking like a 2nd rounder are still there.

Really an offense like the 49ers is where he would turn into something special. Any team that has a lot of movement out of the guards. Other teams drafting him are betting that a few years with pro strength and conditioning allow him to bulk up.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Obviously, I would be interested in TCU OG Avila but also Tennessee Chattanooga OG McClendon Curtis, Wisky C Joe Tippman, Notre Dame C/LG Jarrett Patterson and Sidy Sow as possible OG. Patterson has short arms and that'll likely place him late day 3.

I've come to terms that O'Cyrus Torrence more than likely won't happen and also Avila simply due to where we're drafting at in the second round.

Joe Tippmann Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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McClendon Curtis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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Jarrett Patterson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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[Mebert]

Lions resigned Matt Nelson, who seems to be the latest guy that inexplicably has the love of the coaches.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Looks doable on paper. Easy out for the Bears after only 1-year.

T.J. Edwards | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

T.J. Edwards contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

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[Gulf of Brazil]

Lions resigned Matt Nelson, who seems to be the latest guy that inexplicably has the love of the coaches.

He was an RFA, and they obviously weren't going to tender him that 2.6M contract. I'm assuming that contract is much lower.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

@Mebert Nice call on Trai Turner. I believe you'd mentioned him last year or the year prior.
A quote from his draft profile - has size and run-blocking potential in a power-running scheme.

Trai Turner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

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Trai Turner | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Trai Turner contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

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Market Value​

• 2 yrs, $5,390,157
• Avg. Salary: $2,695,078
• NFL Rank: 620
• G Rank: 36

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

This was originally reported as a two-year, $6 million deal, but as you can see, it more functions as a two-year, $4.5 million deal. What pushes the deal to $6 million in total value is $750,000 in playing time incentives for each season ($1.5 million total). If Buggs hits those incentives, they will eventually count against the cap, too.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

This is a very interestingly structured contract, as it’s worked to maximize cap space for 2023. While the low salary in the first year is extremely common for big deals, the two voided years are a bit curious. What it does is spread out the $10.9 million signing bonus over five years instead of three, bumping the cap hits from that bonus to $2.18 million per year instead of $3.63 million. That’s a savings of about $1.45 million per year for the first three years of the deal, but all of that adds up to a $4.36 million of dead cap in 2026—when Sutton isn’t even under contract anymore.

This functions as basically a two-year, $22.5 million deal with a third-year option. If Detroit wants out after two seasons, it’ll cost them $6.54 million in dead cap, but save a smidge over $6 million in cap space in 2025.