By Blessing 
Lions Face Over $21M in 2025 Dead Cap Charges Despite Smart Cap Management
The Detroit Lions have done a solid job managing their salary cap in recent seasons. General manager Brad Holmes and the front office have maintained financial flexibility, often leaving room to sign injury replacements or plug holes during the season.
Still, even the most well-run teams aren’t immune to the impact of dead cap charges — money that counts against the cap for players no longer on the roster. As the team gears up for the 2025 NFL Draft, they’re carrying $21,552,924 in dead cap, ranking 17th league-wide.
One of the latest hits came with the recent release of veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, which added $2.75 million to the tally. Another major contributor to Detroit’s dead money is cornerback Carlton Davis, whose departure to the New England Patriots in free agency left behind a sizable $9,823,449 cap hit.
According to Spotrac, “Any guaranteed base salary that has yet to be paid out is considered dead cap on the contract. Should the player be released, all guaranteed salary will accelerate and be treated as dead cap in the current season. If traded, any unpaid guaranteed salary will transfer to the new team. When signing or option bonuses are paid, the cap hits for them prorate over the remainder of the contract (max 5 years).”
While dead cap can be frustrating, it’s part of the business — especially when making tough roster decisions. Former corner Cam Sutton still accounts for $6.54 million on the books, while pass rusher Marcus Davenport adds another $2.3 million.
Despite these costs, the Lions still have plenty of financial breathing room. As of now, they hold $52.8 million in available cap space, which puts them in a strong position to target free agents and sign their incoming draft picks. Holmes typically likes to keep around $15 million reserved for in-season needs, so there’s room to maneuver even after finalizing the 90-man offseason roster.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Lions’ current 2025 dead cap hits:
- Carlton Davis — $9,823,449
- Cam Sutton — $6,540,000
- Jalen Reeves-Maybin — $2,750,000
- Marcus Davenport — $2,297,500
- James Mitchell — $60,638
- Kingsley Eguakun — $13,334
- Jalon Calhoun — $10,000
- Steele Chambers — $10,000
- Isaiah Williams — $10,000
- Duke Clemens — $6,667
- Bryan Hudson — $6,667
- Isaac Ukwu — $6,667
- Chelen Garnes — $5,334
- Steven Gilmore — $5,000
- Morice Norris — $3,334
- DaRon Gilbert — $1,667
- James Turner — $1,667
- Loren Strickland — $1,000
While no team escapes dead money entirely, Detroit’s cap structure remains healthy — a testament to Holmes’ strategic planning.