NFL Analyst Predicts Lions Next Move After Salary Cap Rises to $301M
Sport Bilder des Tages Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions DETROIT,MICHIGAN-DECEMBER 5: Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin 42 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after a play during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-chicagob241205_npGcs.jpg
Sport Bilder des Tages Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions DETROIT,MICHIGAN-DECEMBER 5: Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin 42 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after a play during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-chicagob241205_npGcs.jpg
The NFL has announced the salary cap of all teams will increase from $279.2 million in 2025 to $301.2 million in 2026.
While this might seem like good news for other franchises, the Detroit Lions have a lot more work to do.
NFL analyst Christian Romo from the Detroit Free Press has further explained the situation the Lions find themselves in.
The Lions are right now $12.2 million over the salary cap. However, they are seeing a huge jump in the cap due to massive hikes in their star players' salaries.
December 21, 2025, Detroit, Michigan, USA: December 21 2025: Jared Goff 16 during the Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit MI. Brook Ward / Apparent Media Group. Detroit USA - ZUMAa234 20251221_zsa_a234_275 Copyright: xAMGx
December 21, 2025, Detroit, Michigan, USA: December 21 2025: Jared Goff 16 during the Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit MI. Brook Ward / Apparent Media Group. Detroit USA - ZUMAa234 20251221_zsa_a234_275 Copyright: xAMGx
The biggest jump would be for star quarterback Jared Goff, whose salary is going from $18 million to $55 million. Moreover, Aidan Hutchinson’s salary is rising from $5.5 million to $29.5 million. Amon-Ra St.Brown is also set for a big payday, going from $8.3 million to $27.5 million.
To tackle this situation, Romo has come up with some things the Lions can do to stay under the cap.
The Lions can terminate two players right now, use a post-June 1 cut designation, and save more. They would, however, have to wait till June to reap the rewards.
One option would be to offload players like Brian Branch ($5.7 million) and David Montgomery ($3.5 million), but they would save less as compared to waiting it out till June.
Christian Romo suggests contract restructuring as the best option
The Lions could achieve better results by restructuring the existing contracts.
This can be achieved through converting salaries into bonuses, protecting the team cap from ballooning in the near future.
Any potential retirement of players would help, as the Lions don’t need to pay their salaries.
Veterans like Taylor Decker, who is entering his 11th season with the Lions, could have saved a considerable amount ($14.9 million), but Decker will be making his return this year.
One last way would be to trade players, but all their key players hold expensive contracts, and are the Lions’ only path to another Super Bowl appearance.
Time is running out for the Lions, and it remains to be seen what they will do before the draft looms up on them. Will they comply with NFL rules for the start of the 2026 league year? Let us know in the comments!
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Written by
Shyam Hari
Edited by
Kalp Thaker