The numbers for D.J. Reed’s three-year, $48 million contract are finally in, and they are pretty much on par with the originally reported numbers. Indeed, the full value of the deal is $48 million and the reported $32 million guaranteed is accurate.
However, there are a couple of interesting nuances to the deal and the structure gives us some insight into how the Detroit Lions are managing their cap of the future.
Here’s a full breakdown of the deal.
D.J. Reed — 3 years, $48 million — $32 million guaranteed
Source:Over The Cap
2025
$1.255 million base salary (guaranteed)
$3.047 million signing bonus proration ($15.235M total)
Up to $510,000 per game roster bonuses ($420,000 hits 2025 cap)
2025 cap hit: $4,722,000
2026
$14.49 million base salary (guaranteed)
$3.047 million signing bonus proration
Up to $510,000 per game roster bonuses
2026 cap hit: $18,047,000
2027
$1.345 million base salary
$13.645 million option bonus (prorated at $2.729M per year over 5 years)
$500,000 roster bonus
$3.047 million signing bonus proration
Up to $510,000 per game roster bonuses
2027 cap hit: $8,131,000 million
2028-2031 — Void years
2028 dead cap: $17.01 million
Here’s a visualization of the deal if Reed plays out all three years of his contract.
Note: Reed’s game roster bonus in 2025 only hits $420,000 out of the possible $510,000 because it represents the 14/17 games played. So he is only charged 14/17ths out of the possible $510,000. If he plays all 17 games next year, the $90,000 in difference moves to the 2026 cap.
What’s interesting about this structure is how much of Reed’s cap hit is already pushed into the future. In the first three years of his contract, Reed will only cost a total of $30.9 million against the cap. However, when his contract automatically voids in 2028, there’s still over $17 million in dead cap. The Lions could opt to extend Reed then, to keep those red proration cells in future years, but if the contract voids in 2028, they’re facing a hefty dead cap.
Another oddity is that Reed taking a heavy cap hit in 2026, when Detroit will be hit hard by cap hits from Jared Goff ($69.6M), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($33.11M), Penei Sewell ($28M), and Alim McNeill ($28.97M). This is likely further confirmation that some—if not all four—of those contracts are going to be restructured next year to create cap room. Detroit could also be extending the 2023 draft class next offseason, which could—in theory—create some additional 2026 cap room.
The Lions could decide to move on from Reed after just two years. That way, they avoid Reed’s pricy $13.645 million option bonus in 2027 and don’t have to pay his $1.345 million salary or either roster bonus—saving a total of $16 million. However, his original signing bonus prorations would accelerate and hit the 2027 cap, even with Reed no longer on the roster. Here’s what that contract would look like:
In essence, this would act as a two-year, $31.91 million contract—with the cap hit spread across three years. At that value, it basically stays at the $16 million per year average, leaving Detroit with a reasonable option to get out after two years.
If you’re curious how Reed’s contract compares to the player he replaced—Carlton Davis, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract ($34.5 million guaranteed) with the New England Patriots, here are Davis’ annual cap hits:
Full contract breakdown here
2025: $11.7 million
2026: $20 million
2027: $22 million
Davis’ contract also has an out after two years that would make his contract look like this for the Patriots:
2025: $11.7 million
2026: $20 million
2027 (dead cap): $5.5 million
So his deal could look like a two-year, $37.2 million contract—significantly higher than Reed’s two-year, $31.9 million deal (if cut short).