Even after signing end Trey Flowers to a massive contract in free agency, the Detroit Lions are still near the bottom of the league in salary cap commitment to the defensive line in 2019.
Flowers, Damon Harrison, Romeo Okwara and company rank just 24th in salary cap hit for 2019 among all NFL defensive lines. That is a result of contract structures, as well as starting DE Da’Shawn Hand being a major bargain in the second year of his rookie contract.
Flowers signed a 5-year, $90 million deal, but his 2019 cap hit is just $6.4 million thanks to a base salary under $1 million for this year. That accelerates dramatically over the life of his deal. Harrison will count more against the cap in 2019 at $7 million. He has one more year after this one on his current deal, signed with the New York Giants.
Okwara and A’Shawn Robinson will both earn between $1.6 and $1.8 million, relative bargains for their production and ability. Hand will earn under $800,000.
The Lions total of $19.7 million cap spending on the defensive line ranks 24th, per Spotrac. It’s roughly $7.5 million below the league average spending. By way of comparison, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will spend over $47 million to lead the league. The New York Giants, who traded away Harrison and high-priced end Olivier Vernon in the last six months, bring up the rear at $9.5 million.
