A look at how Detroit’s long-term investments will impact the salary cap through 2028
With Aidan Hutchinson’s blockbuster four-year, $180 million contract extension finalized this week, the Detroit Lions now have their franchise foundation firmly in place. Seven key players—considered the backbone of Detroit’s rise—are signed through at least the 2028 season.
Here’s a look at those core contracts:
QB Jared Goff: 4 years, $212 million
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: 4 years, $120 million
WR Jameson Williams: 3 years, $83 million
RT Penei Sewell: 4 years, $112 million
DT Alim McNeill: 4 years, $97 million
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: 4 years, $180 million
S Kerby Joseph: 4 years, $84.1 million
At the moment, these seven stars combine for $84.83 million against the 2025 salary cap, which represents roughly 31% of Detroit’s total cap space. But those numbers are about to climb significantly as the newer contracts begin to escalate.
Projected Cap Impact Over the Next Three Seasons
According to OverTheCap’s projected salary cap growth, several of Detroit’s biggest names are set to experience sharp increases next year.
The three largest jumps include:
Jared Goff: from $32.6M → $69.6M
Amon-Ra St. Brown: from $13.91M → $33.11M
Penei Sewell: from $9.54M → $28M
Those increases alone will cause Detroit’s “core seven” cap share to balloon from 31.5% to 62.2%.
How the Lions Can Ease the Cap Pressure
The good news for general manager Brad Holmes is that Detroit has flexibility. The front office can restructure several deals to manage these spikes.
For instance, Goff’s $55 million base salary could be converted into a signing bonus and spread over five years—potentially lowering his 2025 cap hit by nearly $40 million. Similar restructuring could free up:
Around $15 million from Sewell’s contract
Nearly $20 million from St. Brown’s deal
Because these players are all expected to remain in Detroit long-term, pushing those costs into future seasons carries minimal risk—especially as the NFL salary cap continues to climb.
“Kicking the can down the road” only becomes problematic if a team must part ways with a high-salary player early, which seems unlikely given Detroit’s commitment to this group. In fact, several of them could be in line for new extensions by the time these current deals near their end.
The Challenge Ahead for Brad Holmes
Even with potential restructures, Holmes’ job will get more complicated. Even under a best-case scenario—with maximum restructures for Goff, Sewell, and St. Brown—the core seven would still occupy about 37% of the 2025 cap. That’s a notable jump from this year’s 31.5%, and those numbers will only become harder to balance in future years.
Still, Detroit isn’t the only contender facing this reality. The Kansas City Chiefs’ top seven players are projected to take up a massive portion of their 2026 cap, and the Green Bay Packers—often praised for their youth—will soon face their own expensive extensions.
The Bottom Line
What the Lions are dealing with is less a “problem” and more a natural part of building a successful roster. Holmes and his front office will need to stay sharp—balancing star salaries, maintaining depth through rookie deals, and finding value signings in free agency.
If they can continue walking that tightrope, Detroit’s championship window could stay open well beyond 2028.
