By Blessing 
Breaking Down the Lions’ Latest Free Agent Contracts and What They Mean for 2025
The Detroit Lions have been busy in free agency, and with new contract details emerging, we’re getting a clearer picture of how the team values some of its latest signings. Looking at the structure of these deals—especially the guaranteed money—gives insight into which players are expected to contribute in 2025 and who might be fighting for a roster spot when training camp rolls around.
Let’s dive into the latest numbers and what they reveal about these six Lions signings.
RB Craig Reynolds — One-Year, $1.17 Million
- Base salary: $1.17 million
- Roster bonus: $75,000
- Workout bonus: $75,000
- Cap hit: $1.18 million
Reynolds entered free agency as a restricted free agent, which meant the Lions had the option to tender him at a minimum of $3.3 million. Instead, they chose to re-sign him at a much lower cost—about one-third of that amount.
His contract carries no real guaranteed money, aside from a $75,000 bonus if he participates in the Lions’ offseason program. While Reynolds has been the team’s No. 3 running back for a few seasons, his spot on the roster isn’t locked in this year. With Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Sione Vaki expected to make the team, Reynolds will need to prove his value once again.
OT Dan Skipper — One-Year, $1.42 Million
- Base salary: $1.255 million
- Signing bonus: $75,000
- Roster bonus: $67,500
- Workout bonus: $25,000
- Cap hit: $1.2 million
Skipper gets a slight pay bump from last season ($1.15 million), thanks in part to the league’s mandated veteran minimum for a player with seven or more years in the NFL. Along with his salary, he’ll receive a $100,000 bonus from a combination of his signing and workout incentives.
That said, his contract doesn’t scream “guaranteed backup tackle.” If anything, it suggests that second-year lineman Giovanni Manu might be making a strong case behind the scenes for a bigger role. We’ll have to see how things unfold on the practice field before making any assumptions.
The Lions took advantage of the NFL’s Veteran Salary Benefit, allowing them to keep Skipper’s cap hit lower than expected. Since his deal includes at least $167,500 in potential incentives (a figure the Lions matched precisely), the team is only charged a cap hit based on the minimum salary of a second-year player ($1.03 million).
EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad — One-Year, $1.42 Million
- Base salary: $1.255 million ($200,000 guaranteed)
- Signing bonus: $100,000
- Roster bonus: $67,500
- Cap hit: $1.13 million
Muhammad’s contract is nearly identical to Skipper’s, but with one key difference—he has $300,000 in guaranteed money. That extra security suggests that his spot on the roster is a little more solid.
Still, the Lions structured this deal in a way that makes it easy to move on if things don’t work out. But given the guarantees, it’s clear the team sees value in what Muhammad brings to the table.
DL Pat O’Connor — One-Year, $1.42 Million
- Base salary: $1.255 million ($200,000 guaranteed)
- Signing bonus: $100,000
- Roster bonus: $67,500
- Cap hit: $1.13 million
O’Connor’s contract is a carbon copy of Muhammad’s, and that tells us something. The Lions clearly like what they see in him, enough to provide a decent guarantee. However, it’s still not enough to lock in a roster spot. He’ll need to earn his place during camp and preseason.
CB Avonte Maddox — One-Year, $1.42 Million
- Base salary: $1.255 million ($1.03 million guaranteed)
- Signing bonus: $167,500
- Cap hit: $1.2 million
Once again, the Lions make use of the Veteran Salary Benefit, but Maddox’s contract stands out because it’s almost entirely guaranteed. That level of commitment indicates how much the Lions value the veteran corner’s experience, especially in a young defensive backfield.
CB Khalil Dorsey — Two-Year, $3.3 Million
2025:
- Base salary: $1.1 million
- Prorated signing bonus: $150,000
- Game roster bonus: $230,000 ($189,412 cap hit)
- Workout bonus: $45,000
- Cap hit: $1.48 million
2026:
- Base salary: $1.34 million
- Prorated signing bonus: $150,000
- Game roster bonus: $230,000
- Workout bonus: $45,000
- Cap hit: $1.77 million
Among the roughly 30 players the Lions have re-signed this offseason—whether through future contracts, exclusive rights tenders, or free agency—only two landed multi-year deals: Derrick Barnes and Khalil Dorsey. That alone speaks volumes about how highly the team thinks of Dorsey.
Dorsey is coming off a broken tibia and fibula, but despite the injury, the Lions see him as a core special teams player and a capable depth piece for the defense. Given that he’ll only be 28 when this contract expires, don’t be surprised if he earns another deal before 2026 wraps up.
Final Thoughts
Looking at these contracts, it’s clear the Lions are being strategic with their spending. While some deals offer security—like Maddox’s mostly guaranteed contract—others leave room for competition in camp. Reynolds, Skipper, Muhammad, and O’Connor will have to fight for their spots, while Dorsey’s two-year deal suggests he’s a long-term piece for Detroit.
It’ll be interesting to see how these signings play out when the season gets closer, but for now, the Lions’ front office has given us a pretty good idea of how they value these players.