The Detroit Lions and Kalif Raymond have agreed to restructure his contract, providing benefits for both the player and the team. This move eliminates a 2026 cap hit while increasing Raymond’s guaranteed money for 2025.
Raymond, who spent his early NFL years bouncing between teams, found stability with Detroit in 2021. He became a key contributor on offense and special teams, eventually earning a two-year contract extension in 2022. His standout performance as a punt returner led to second-team All-Pro honors in both 2022 and 2024. Entering the final year of his deal, Raymond was set to count $6.45 million against the salary cap in 2025, with $3.1 million in guaranteed money, along with a voided year that would have added another $1.55 million to the 2026 cap.
Under the restructured agreement, Raymond accepted a reduction in overall earnings while securing a pay bump in 2025 and a significant increase in guaranteed money. The Lions, in turn, gained salary cap flexibility, particularly for 2026.
The new contract structure includes adjustments to several financial components. The Lions added a $1.5 million prorated restructure bonus, increased his game bonuses by $260,000, and raised his workout bonus by $110,000. Additionally, they pulled the $1.55 million voided year cap charge from 2026 into 2025. These changes created $3.42 million in new financial commitments.
To balance the restructuring, Raymond’s base salary was lowered from $4.35 million to $1.83 million, freeing up $2.52 million. He also accepted a $900,000 pay cut to help even out the deal.
For Raymond, the main incentive was a doubling of his guaranteed money, which improves his chances of making the active roster. His new guaranteed earnings include a $1.5 million restructure bonus, a fully guaranteed $1.83 million base salary, and previously guaranteed amounts from his signing bonus and voided year, bringing his total guarantees to $6.43 million.
From the Lions’ standpoint, the restructuring shifts $1.55 million from the 2026 cap to 2025 while also factoring in Raymond’s pay cut and adjusted game bonuses, resulting in a net $500,000 addition to the 2025 cap. Ultimately, while the move adds a small cap hit for this year, it clears significant space for 2026 and ensures Raymond receives the full value of his contract.
