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The Detroit Lions announced Friday that they have released starting right tackle Rick Wagner from the final two years of his contract.
Wagner signed with the Lions during the 2017 offseason and commanded one of the largest contracts for a right tackle in the NFL. Wagner had a stellar first season, but in each of the two years since, his play has fallen off and was not living up to his current salary.
Wagner’s Pro Football Focus scores during his time in Detroit were 75.2 in 2017, 71.6 in 2018, and a below-average 59.1 in 2019.
Injuries have also played a factor in Wagner’s lack of success — he missed three games in 2017, one in 2018, and four this past season. Further complicating matters for Wagner, when he was replaced in the lineup by Tyrell Crosby, the drop off in success was minimal if at all.
Wagner was scheduled to count $11.9 million against the cap next season, and while the Lions will absorb a $5.8 million cap hit, they will also clear $6.1 million in cap space, bringing their available salary cap space to nearly $55 million as they move towards free agency.
Currently, Crosby is in line to start at right tackle, but the Lions will likely be looking for competition in free agency and/or the NFL draft. Names to keep in mind for free agency include Jack Conklin, Bryan Bulaga, and Germain Ifedi. In the draft, Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and Jedrick Willis (Alabama) would be instant replacements but cost a first-round pick, while Isaiah Wilson (Georgia) and Ezra Cleveland (Boise State) are names to keep in mind on Day 2.