Someone help me understand why we cleared so much cap room, when it’s now obvious that Branch and LaPorta are unlikely to get long-term extensions.
I want it explained to me like I’m a 5 year old why we need so much cap room.
Thanks.
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It’s times like this I REALLY miss Deadstroke!! 
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I cant answer that but since it can be carried over does it matter if we have the space or not? To me i just assume it is for flexibility to make a move, like the jpj move could’ve been, and also negotiate extensions with Laporta and/or Branch.
If we dont extend them or make a move we just roll it over, right?
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As a lot of us suspected, it’s likely going to be between LaPorta and Branch for who gets the long term deal. You just can’t pay everybody. Brad gets the blame for drafting too well. Kerby’s $21m+/yr is killing them right now.
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Lmao.
Busted
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I think this might be the way to go to see if his back holds up…but then you might lose him if it does.
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Because your premise is wrong.
It’s not obvious that Branch and LaPorta are unlikely to get long-term extensions. Wouldn’t you expect Brad to get a sense of what he’s gett ing with player returning from back andAchilles injuries?
I’d accuse Brad of malpractice if he didn’t approach negotiations with some prudent caution.
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Edit - thinking
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Our Tight End position would be Meek if we traded La Porta.
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It sort of feels like the part in Crimson Tide where the guy says “you don’t put a condom on unless you are going to F—” Why restructure those guys, sacrificing future flexibility for present day spending power if you aren’t going to spend in the present? Though I suppose my analogy probably won’t work with a five-year old lol.
Teams are allowed to roll over 100% of their unused salary cap space from one season to the next, with no maximum limit.
A lot of the bigger contracts they signed don’t kick in until next season. That $30m will go much farther in the coming seasons than it will right now.
“We’re betting everything on winning it all this year but will have to cut/trade Alim and/or Jamo next year”
Vs.
“We think we have a good enough team to win this year and we want to keep Alim & Jamo next year + be able to still add to the team in case we don’t win it all this year and want a shot at winning it next year” (or have the flexibility to pull the trigger on a big move this year IF it’s right)
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With Dan saying Brad had been in on JPJ for a while, maybe they restructured and opened up the space for him and not our own. Now we have the space and have to figure out what we do with it.
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This is exactly the right explanation.
The Lions “cleard cap space” for 2026… but it didn’t change ANYTHING for what those players will be paid in cash. Deadstroke was adament about this concept.
The extra space isn’t burning a hole in Brad’s pocket.
It could be used in 2026, or simply carried forward if not used up.
The only extra piece I will add… is that people tend to forget how much money the Lions have pushed into future years.
They are NOT being cheap.
The Lions have the 3rd most most money in void years for future seasons. More than Dallas. More than Buffalo.
And… look closely at that number for the Eagles. The excrement will hit the oscillator within a few years for that roster.
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Spot on. Well said!
I will note that this has been explained multiple times in multiple ways to the folks around here who continue to (loudly) question it the moment they become emotional.
I understand the “yolo” mentality of aggressively putting all of the eggs in the basket when you’ve got a particular situation like an aging Matt Stafford or Tampa during the Brady years, for example. That’s not the Lions situation at all though. They have a young core and i think the FO thinks of this team more in a “possibly dynasty” capacity vs the “we must win this year, or else” capacity.
I support Holmes’ measured, intelligent approach. I’m glad they’re not panicking and making what i believe would be short-sighted decisions.
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I could see them tagging laporta while they finish negotiating a new deal.
I love Sam but i gotta see him healthy for a whole season before I pay him unless he wants to take a discount and given his injury history he should take the most money he can get right now in my opinion
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Sam doesn’t want to take the coming-off-a-major-injury discount. He’s gambling that he’ll stay healthy and get the whole bag.
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I hope he plays so well he’s right. Branch too
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Yup. I predicted this, when Bradley was consistently cranking home runs in the draft
We’re gonna end up having to trade some of our guys that we want to keep, and get lots of draft capital… Then have to repeat the process
We’re drafting too well, and can’t afford all of the top end players
Beautiful problem to have
Handsomest GM in the history of the NFL