Tag: Trey Flowers

Breaking down the top-20 remaining NFL free agents of 2022

Odell Beckham Jr., Rob Gronkowski and Duane Brown are still available.

Tuesday was a big day for the NFL’s remaining free agents. Beginning at 4 p.m. ET, teams could sign players without it affecting their compensatory draft pick balance.

The compensatory pick process is a months-long snapshot of a team’s roster changes over the early stage of free agency. Teams that lose more than they gain — most often the New England Patriots — stand to recoup some of that value in the following year’s draft. When the compensatory window closes, it means teams who lost big name free agents could hit the open market without tilting the formula that will award them bonus third- or fourth-round draft selections next spring.

We’ve already seen it have an impact. Tyrann Mathieu lingered in free agency, then signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the New Orleans Saints on the day the deadline passed. Twenty-two franchises have an estimated $10 million or more left in salary cap space left to spend in 2022, per Over the Cap. Expect a slight uptick in action now that the months of draft prep are over and compensatory picks are locked in.

Which difference makers are still out there? Fortunately for needy teams, there are a handful of free agents capable of stepping into a starting role this fall.

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The Lions have officially released Trey Flowers

Flowers had 10.5 sacks in 29 games over three seasons in Detroit after signing a 5-year, $90M deal

The Detroit Lions have officially released veteran defensive end/linebacker Trey Flowers. The team announced the move in a press release on Wednesday shortly after the onset of the new NFL league year.

The move was widely anticipated, with the Lions telling Flowers last week that they were looking to move on.

Flowers spent three seasons in Detroit after being a centerpiece free agent signing by then-GM Bob Quinn in 2019. In 29 games over the three injury-marred seasons, Flowers racked up 10.5 sacks and 97 total tackles. He was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2020 and was a valued presence in the locker room under both coaching staffs he played for in Detroit.

There is no word on if the Lions used the post-June 1st designation in the transaction. If not, the move frees up $10.386 million in salary cap room for the 2022 season. Flowers had two remaining years on his five-year, $90 million contract. He is not subject to waivers and does not factor into the compensatory draft pick formula by being released.

In a prepared statement from the team, head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes had this to say about Flowers,

We speak on behalf of our entire organization in thanking Trey for his contributions to the Detroit Lions over the last three years. He has been an exemplary leader for our team both on and off the field and has helped us set a foundation for the future. Trey is a man of integrity who embodies what it means to serve his community and stand for something larger than yourself. We wish him and his family success as he enters the next stage of his career.

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Lions mock offseason v5.0: The ‘what I would do’ edition

The “What I Would Do” edition of the Lions mock offseason

Now that the league year is about to change and free agency signing kicks off shortly, it’s time for the final update to the Detroit Lions mock offseason.

This is the fifth edition in the series that pulls together potential paths of action for the Lions. It encompasses roster moves with existing players, free agents signings, trades and a full mock draft.

The Lions preemptively executed one of the moves that has been a fixture of the previous editions when they announced that EDGE Trey Flowers will be released in a cap-saving move.

Lions mock offseason 4.0: Pre-combine edition

Lions mock offseason v3.0: Presenting the QB of the future

Lions mock offseason v2.0: The one with the trades

Lions mock offseason for 2022, first edition

Unlike the previous four potential pathways, this one is focused on what I would do if I were Lions GM Brad Holmes. It is not intended to be predictive of what will actually happen in the coming weeks.

The Lions will release OLB Trey Flowers next week

Flowers has two years left on his 5-year, $90 million contract he signed in 2019

Trey Flowers’ time in Detroit is coming to a close. The Lions have informed the veteran defensive end/outside linebacker that he will be released prior to March 18th. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press was the first to report the news.

It’s not an unexpected move. Flowers is due a $1.6 million roster bonus on Friday, March 18th and the Lions don’t want to pay any more than needed. Depending on the structure of the release, the Lions will save at least $10.386 million in salary cap room for 2022. If designated a post-June 1st release, that figure goes up to $16 million.

Flowers was set to be the highest-paid Lions defender with a $16 million salary for 2022. He signed a five-year, $90 million contract as a free agent prior to the 2019 season after several years with the New England Patriots. He was one of the marquee figures of the “Patriot Way” path the Lions took under former GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia.

He has battled injuries over the last two seasons, managing just 36 tackles and 3.5 sacks in the last two seasons. Flowers, 28, was a strong presence in the locker room and the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020.

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Everyone made the same joke about the Patriots with Lions set to release Trey Flowers

Yup, just about everyone sees a natural fit for Trey Flowers and the Patriots.

The New England Patriots seem to be connected to just about every free agent this offseason, even though they don’t have a ton of salary-cap space. But when the Detroit Lions informed defensive end Trey Flowers of his release, per the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett, the internet knew what to do. It seemed every NFL fan and media member instantly imagined a scenario where the Patriots swooped in and added Flowers.

Even with just $14 million in spending money for 2022, the Patriots could add the defensive end, who emerged in New England after it drafted Flowers in the fourth round in 2015 out of Arkansas. Bill Belichick has a habit of making players into stars, watching them leave in free agency and then giving them a place to land when their second team lets them go.

So here’s how Twitter responded to the Flowers’ news.

10 potential salary cap casualties the Eagles could target in NFL free agency

With several teams around the league currently crunching numbers, here are 10 potential cap casualties the #Philadelphia #Eagles could target in #NFL free agency

The official start to the NFL’s 2022 offseason is on the horizon and as the Eagles prepare for free agency and the NFL draft, salary cap ramifications for teams around the league could work to Howie Roseman’s advantage.

Philadelphia is middle of the pack in cap space with $18 million available per Over The Cap and the organization could free up $30 million more by adjusting several contracts.

Other teams aren’t so lucky, and organizations like the Saints ($-75M), Packers ($-53M), Cowboys ($-22M), and Rams ($-21M) are among 11 teams that are above the league-mandated salary cap and will need to restructure or release several key players over the next few weeks.

We’re looking at 10 potential salary-cap casualties from around the NFL that Philadelphia could target in March.

4 players the Lions could cut to free up cap room in 2022

4 veteran players the Lions could cut to free up cap room for 2022

This offseason figures to be an important one for the Detroit Lions and GM Brad Holmes. Between the 2022 NFL draft and the upcoming free agency period, the Lions are positioned to add several impact talents across the roster. They certainly need them if they hope to finish better than 3-13-1 in the second year of the Holmes/Dan Campbell regime.

One of the ways they can attempt to improve is addition-by-subtraction. Jettisoning overpaid veterans whose salaries might be better spent on different players who fit the current Lions better than the “Patriot Way” era and using those funds to boost free agency spending makes a lot of sense.

The Lions don’t have a lot of options on that front. Cutting Taylor Decker or Jeff Okudah, as examples, would technically cost the Lions more cap room than they’re paying for those players in 2022. Here are four that do fit the bill of potential cap casualties in the name of progress.

All the cap figures here are based on roster moves that would be designated post-June 1st, per Over The Cap.

Lions will be without 12 of their 15 highest-paid players in Week 15

The Lions will be without 12 of their 15 highest-compensated players in Week 15 due to injuries or dead cap

With tight end T.J. Hockenson the latest addition to the injured reserve, the Detroit Lions are now missing a major portion of the team’s 2021 salary cap. Whether it’s dead cap for players no longer on the team or guys who are sidelined with injuries, the Lions are paying a whole lot of salary cap obligation to players who cannot help them on the field in Week 15.

How much?

The Lions will be without players whose cap obligations total $120.8 million when they face the Arizona Cardinals in Ford Field in Week 15. The total NFL salary cap for 2021 is $182.5 million.

Dead cap: $65.084 million

Injured reserve: $49.007 million

Reserve/COVID-19: $6.795 million

Based on the figures from Over The Cap, the Lions will be without 12 of their 15 highest-compensated players. Only QB Jared Goff, RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai and LT Taylor Decker will be in uniform.

The players on the payroll the Lions will be without in Week 15, in order of 2021 salary cap commitment:

Lions place OLB Trey Flowers on IR, sign Rashod Berry among final Week 13 roster moves

Flowers was already ruled out for the third game in a row

The Trey Flowers era in Detroit could be coming to an end. The Lions placed the outside linebacker on the injured reserve list on Saturday.

Flowers had already missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and was ruled out for Sunday’s game against Minnesota. He has battled the injury all season, missing two games earlier on as well. The veteran has a hefty price tag for the coming season and has not lived up to the lofty contract. He ended last season on injured reserve. Technically Flowers will be eligible to return as soon as Week 16.

To replace Flowers on the active roster, the Lions signed OLB Rashod Berry from the practice squad. Berry played well in the preseason and has spent the 2021 campaign on the Detroit practice squad.

The Lions also elevated LB Tavante Beckett and DE Bruce Hector from the practice squad for the matchup with the Vikings.

 

Lions vs. Bears: Final Week 12 injury report for the Thanksgiving game

Lions QB Jared Goff is questionable and 5 players are out, while Justin Fields is among 3 ruled out for the Bears

The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears will both be missing key players when they take the field on Thursday. Five Lions players have been ruled out on the final injury report, while the Bears will be missing two key starters and a top reserve.

Outside linebacker Trey Flowers is the biggest name ruled out for the Lions. He will miss a second consecutive game with a knee injury. Austin Bryant is expected to start in Flowers’ place.

Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai and slot cornerback AJ Parker will also miss the game. Vaitai suffered a concussion in the Week 11 loss to the Browns, while Parker is dealing with an ankle injury. Reserve offensive tackle Matt Nelson and wide receiver Trinity Benson will also be out with injuries.

Starting quarterback Jared Goff is among three players listed as questionable. Goff himself described his status as a “game-day decision” on Tuesday. Tim Boyle will get the start if Goff cannot play. Running back Jermar Jefferson and defensive end Michael Brockers are also listed as questionable with knee injuries.

For Chicago, starting quarterback Justin Fields has been ruled out. Andy Dalton will start in his place. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is also out with an ankle injury, a major blow to a defense that lost top pass rusher Khalil Mack to injured reserve before Week 11. Reserve running back Damien Williams is also ruled out, while top wide receiver Allen Robinson is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

In addition, four Bears are listed as questionable:

  • S Eddie Jackson
  • S Tashaun Gipson
  • DL Mario Edwards
  • WR Marquise Goodwin

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