Photo Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press.

The NFL business continues to grow, and with that, comes more money. This means teams will have more money to spend on players, but it also means players will want bigger contracts.

The salary cap hasn’t been confirmed yet for 2025, but it is projected to be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million per team. General Managers were under the impression the cap would be somewhere between $265 million and $275 million, so it is about $10 million over that number. It is a pretty big increase, about $22-$26 million more than the $255.4 million from this past season. Since 2018, the NFL cap has increased by over $100 million, with an increase of over $50 million the past two years, and it will only continue to grow as the business of football takes over the sports landscape even more.

We will also likely see huge contracts this off-season, and it will only balloon from there. Reports indicate Bengals receiver Jamarr Chase will see upwards of $40 million per year with his new extension coming this off-season, which is about $5 million more than the next highest paid receiver. The rise in cap could mean a plethora of things for Detroit, so let’s talk about it.

Obviously, it means more money, but what does more money really mean? The Lions will have a bit more money on their cap space, it was projected at around $59 million, this increase would put it closer to $70 million. However, it also means players will ask for more money, which sort of balances it out. It is very likely that Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph, and Jameson Williams will be extended soon, with the former likely to be this season at some point. The rise will mean the Lions will end up spending a little more money per year to keep these guys, which is a big reason why NFL teams like to lock their best players up as soon as they are eligible. The deals Amon-Ra and Sewell got will look like steals pretty soon, with St. Brown getting $30 million per year, and Sewell getting $28 million per year. Especially Sewell, as his deal doesn’t even kick in right away. St. Brown is the 4th highest paid receiver, and Sewell is the 2nd highest paid tackle, but they will continue to move down that ladder as the years go by. They are both locked up until at least 2029.

This could mean a plethora of things for Detroit. It opens up the idea of trading for Myles Garrett, but also gives them a little more freedom to sign free agents. The increase could be the difference between signing a top free agent, and not. Being a contending team, I think the Lions benefit more than most. The cap rise will allow them to sign more depth, and could even equate to adding a player we couldn’t have prior. I’m not so sure it will cause a feeding frenzy in free agency, but it will change things. This is a good thing for everyone, as the teams can add more talent, and the players will get paid more too.

The football business is booming, and everyone is prospering from it. The Lions and other contending teams should be excited, as this will help them try to get over that hump.

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