Training Camp Battles (DL) - Cap Perspective

8:25pm

Based on Nate's Projected Defensive Roster, the Lions will have $7,666,493 of cap charges invested in five total DE's and will incur an additional $15,440 of Dead Cap associated with the release of three DE's. At DT, the Lions will have five players accounting for $9,897,453 of cap space and will have an additional $14,700 of dead cap from the release of one DT.

DE's Current Year Cap Charges:

• Dewayne White - $3,960,000
• Jared DeVries - $1,656,720
• Corey Smith - $806,720
• Ikaika Alama-Francis - $586,720
• Cliff Avril - $456,333
• Victor DeGrate - $301,720
• Claude Harriot - $301,720
• Ruldolph Hardie - $297,000

DE's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

• Dewayne White - $3,355,470
• Jared DeVries - $356,720
• Corey Smith - $106,720
• Ikaika Alama-Francis - $216,720
• Cliff Avril - $161,333
• Victor DeGrate - 6,720
• Claude Harriot - $6,720
• Ruldolph Hardie - $2,000

DT's Current Year Cap Charges:

• Cory Redding - $4,983,333
• Chuck Darby - $2,195,000
• Shaun Cody - $1,120,000
• Langston Moore - $933,720
• Andre Fluellen -$465,400
• Landon Cohen - $309,700
• Shemiah Legrande - $200,000 **

DT's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

• Cory Redding - $2,083,333
• Chuck Darby - $1,465,000
• Shaun Cody - $600,000
• Shemiah Legrande - $200,000 **
• Andre Fluellen - $170,400
• Landon Cohen - $14,700
• Langston Moore - $6,720

**Shemiah Legrande was placed on IR at the end of June. When a football injury occurs while on the roster, a portion of the salary is guaranteed to be paid for the year. At some point, the Lions may reach a settlement with Legrande for a lesser amount, but they are currently on the hook for his split salary figure.

Recent Signings

11:10pm EDT

The Lions have recently signed three free agents. One Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) - Corey Smith and two Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA) - Sean McHugh and Greg Blue. Plus I've estimated Brian Kelly's contract. As I noted in an earlier blog, ERFA's may only sign a one-year contract for the league minimum with the team that has their rights. Their player costs are included in the computation of salary cap status on the date that the tender was issued and the fact that they have now officially signed that tender, does not alter the Lions salary cap status. It also appears that the Lions have revoked the tender that they originally offered LaMarcus Hicks and he is now an UFA and free to negotiate a contract with any team.

Sean McHugh - Signed his one year tender for $605,000. Current year cap cost is $605,000.

Greg Blue - Signed his one year tender for $445,000. Current year cap cost is $445,000.

Corey Smtih - Smith has signed a veteran minimum contract in each of the prior two seasons. This year, however, Smith had received interest from other teams including the Texans, Vikings and Packers and consequently signed a contract for more than the league minimum. He signed a one year contract that includes a base salary of $700,000, while other financial details were not disclosed, I'd estimate that the total contract was for $1M, making his current year cap cost $1M.

Brian Kelly - Kelly signed a 3 year contract that will pay him base salaries of $1.25M (2008), $2.4M (2009) and $2M (2010). Other financial details were not disclosed. Based on the salaries, the fact that he bought out the final year of his contract with Tampa Bay and what he's made in the past. I'd estimate that his signing included a signing bonus of $3M. Based on the above assumptions, Kelly's current year cap cost would be $2.25M.

With the additional cap costs for Corey Smith and Brian Kelly, I'd estimate the current year cap status at less than $100,000 under the cap.