Lions add 3 void years to Carlton Davis' contract, freeing up millions in cap space

The Detroit Lions have restructured the contract of recently acquired cornerback Carlton Davis to free up some immediate cap space.

When the team acquired Davis in a trade from Tampa Bay last week, they inherited the final year of the cornerback's contract, which included a $14.3 million cap hit. The Lions were able to fully absorb that figure due to the team's healthy financials, but after making the splash signing of defensive tackle DJ Reader later in the week, the team felt the need to create more immediate room.

The way to do that, without an extension, is to add void years to the contract. It's a device that allows you to spread money into the future. With Davis, the Lions added three void years and converted $6 million of his $14 million base salary to a signing bonus.

Because signing bonuses can be spread evenly across the duration of a contract for cap purposes — which is four years with the addition of three void seasons — only $1.5 million of that $6 million will count against the cap this year. That frees up $4.5 million in 2024.

This year's cash flow doesn't change for Davis or the Lions. They'll still pay him $14.3 million in 2024. The only difference is he'll get $6 million up front. As for that $4.5 million in space, it will be tacked on to the team's cap in the future. If he departs as a free agent next season, the Lions will be fully responsible for it as a dead money cap hit next year, while a contract extension could keep the hits spread at $1.5 million per season the next three years.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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