Motown Bombers

They have $20 million right now for 2025. For 2026, per Spotrac, they have $13 million which is 20th. They were $7 million over but rolling over $20 million puts them under the cap. They were still over the cap even with rolling over cash but the Hutchinson extension gave them room next year. If they signed Zeitler for the contract he got with Tennessee, that would have been $9 million less this year, which means $9 million less to roll over, which would mean only $4 million in space next year vs $13 million and Zeitler no longer on the team. The Lions signed arguably the top cornerback available last year so it’s not like they weren’t active.

A big reason why the Lions have $13 million in cap is because they signed Hutchinson and Williams to extensions and lowering the cap hit on that 5th year option.

They really need to work an extension with Campbell vs picking up the 5th year. The problem with the 5th year option is so many pass rushers are considered linebackers, it makes the 5th year option expensive. Campbell would be the highest paid ILB if they exercise his 5th year option. I actually would not be surprised if they decline but work out an extension.

If they would have signed Zeitler, their cap space in 2026 would be about $4 million vs $13 million. These free agent signings have ramifications beyond the season. They are currently 20th in projected cap space. Goff will get restructured which will free up a lot of space. Cutting Decker frees up space. They have to extend Gibbs, Campbell, Laporta, and who knows with Branch and his Achilles. St Brown, Hutchinson, Sewell, Williams, McNeil, Joseph aren't going to get cheaper. Spending cap money today is how the Lions lost Suh.

Anzalone is likely gone. It’s one of those decisions a good team has to make. He’s the wrong side of 30 and will likely get a big contract. He’s not part of the core. He’ll likely have a good new year next year and people will say we should have kept him.

I'll let you know next offseason. If the Lions miss the playoffs and LB is weak, then he will be the new Zeitler. If they re-sign him and they end up weak somewhere else, they shouldn't have re-signed him and should have been sacrificed like Brian Branch.

Because the Lions draft significantly better than the Bears.

He would probably be doing the Lions a favor. He has a big cap hit. He’s in bubble territory.

John Morton is not a halfwit, in fact Ben Johnson wanted him.

I know, you live in fantasy land. It’s not even like Zeitler is a huge upgrade over Ratledge.

All offseason you wanted Hendrickson which would have been an unmitigated disaster, now it’s the offensive line and you were willing to sacrifice Brian Branch for one extra of Zeitler.

We also haven’t gotten to the fact Zeitler wanted to be closer to family. At some point, you were going to have to get younger at the position.

I guarantee after one year of Zeitler and Branch is on the Eagles going to the Pro Bowl, you wouldn’t be saying the same thing.

Why would they broaden their search when they had one of the best offenses in history? Next man up would have been Engstrand which maybe they should’ve done.

Yes, it would have. You understand cap rolls over? They were projected to be over the cap even with rolling over cap. Zeitler is just a bandaid. Who do you replace Joseph, Branch and Campbell with? You would be complaining about letting them go like you are with Zeitler. One side of your mouth you say they should let players walk and the other they should resign.

So the Lions can’t hire anyone who may have been with the team at one point in the past. The Lions had a historically good offense. Insane to hire anyone connected to that offense.

Next man up except when they hired Lynn and Morton. Good teams develop coaches.

Tater is never going to understand the Lions don’t have the cap space.

How many of you are still left?

Panthers

If I understand right, they were going to make Giuliani queen for a day and he was going to roll on Trump? They would have had Trump dead to rights. He can't keep getting away with it.