In understanding how the Detroit Lions are at their current cap space -- around $5.5 million -- we're taking a look at every contract we get through ESPN Stats & Information to explain what each player's deals look like.
In the case of linebacker Josh Bynes, who signed a two-year deal with the franchise, for $1.81 million, not much was guaranteed. He was given a signing bonus of $250,000 and that's all the money he'll definitely be collecting. He has base salaries of $660,000 in 2015 and $900,000 in 2016 with no roster bonuses, workout bonuses or incentives.He has a cap hit of $785,000 in 2015 and $1,025,000 in 2016. He'll pull in $910,000 in cash in 2015 and $900,000 in 2016. As far as dead money hits if he is no longer on the roster, that'll be $250,000 in 2015 and $125,000 in 2016.
Matt Prater's deal is a bit trickier. If he plays the entire three seasons, he'll earn $9 million. He also has a $750,000 signing bonus.
In 2015, he'll get $1 million in base salary, a workout bonus of $50,000 and a roster bonus of $12,500 for every game he is active with a cap of $200,000. His cap number in 2015 is $1.5 million and he'll earn $2 million in cash.
In 2016, he has a base salary of $2.25 million with a $50,000 workout bonus. He has a roster bonus of $15,625 per game with a cap of $250,000. He also has an option bonus of $750,000 due on the third day of that league year. The Detroit Free Press explains the bonus as such: "The Lions have until the third day of the 2016 league year to exercise the 2017 option on Prater's contract for $750,000 or his 2016 base salary increases to $3 million." His cap number of 2016 would be $3.925 million.
In 2017, if Prater is on the roster, he's scheduled to make $3.15 million in base salary and a workout bonus of $50,000. He also has a roster bonus of $15,625 per game with a cap of $250,000. His cap number would be $4.325 million in 2017 but his dead money at that point would only be $625,000.
Prater's deal is basically one that insulates the team if he has any issues but if he can stay clean, it benefits both Prater and the Lions.
All of the numbers in this story come from ESPN Stats & Information.