One of the most pivotal decisions in Detroit Lions history came when the franchise acquired quarterback Jared Goff from the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, shipping former QB Matthew Stafford to L.A. in return. Then, after Goff helped lead Detroit to a breakout season, the Lions locked him up with a four-year, $212 million extension in May 2024, putting him among the NFL’s highest earners at the time.
Goff’s salary cap hit stands at $32.6 million for 2025 and jumps to $69.6 million in 2026—massive numbers. But as Detroit plans ahead financially, they also need to prepare for costly extensions for key contributors like Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta, and Jack Campbell—players already making a name for themselves at their respective positions.
So, what options does Detroit have? According to one NFL expert, there’s a specific aspect of Goff’s contract that’s flying under the radar and could provide a solution for the Lions to afford these rising stars in the near future.
The Lions have some tough financial choices coming up, and in a feature published Wednesday, July 2, by Mike Payton of A to Z Sports, he highlights a small “detail” in Goff’s contract that could give the team an edge.
“A major element that could really benefit the Lions is the void year in Goff’s contract,” Payton says in the article, explaining that void years are nothing new for Detroit, but this one stands out because “it currently carries no money on it.”
“The reason no cash is attached right now is that the team likely intends to restructure the deal in 2026,” Payton continues. Restructuring could create valuable cap relief just in time to extend their young core.
He notes that Detroit “can stick with the existing void year or add more to spread the cap hit further.” Payton outlines two options for doing this, showing the team could save either $40.275 million or $42.96 million in cap space for 2026, depending on the approach taken.
Regardless of the route, the Lions could unlock over $40 million in cap flexibility—critical for retaining their top players. Payton even suggests void years could be used in some of those new contracts too, allowing the team to “distribute salaries over time.” He calls this maneuver a true “game changer.”
In related news, Goff still isn’t earning the fantasy football respect his stats warrant. According to a July 3 article from ESPN ranking NFL quarterbacks, Goff came in at No. 16—far behind top-ranked Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
