Lions save nearly $1.3 million with Malcolm Rodriguez contract trick
The Detroit Lions saved well over $1 million in cap space by utilizing a salary cap benefit designed to award loyalty.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 4: Malcolm Rodriguez #44 of the Detroit Lions looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on December 04, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images Earlier this week, contract details on the Detroit Lions’ re-signing of Malcolm Rodriguez came out, and if you were to just look at the Over The Cap outline of the deal , it would probably be pretty confusing. Rodriguez has a salary of over $2.
5 million—all guaranteed—a signing bonus of $137,500, and a workout bonus of $50,000. Combine all of those, and it should equal a salary cap hit of a combined $2. 7 million.
Yet, per OTC, the Lions’ cap charge for Rodriguez’s deal is just $1,402,5000. There are no void years. This isn’t a misprint.
The Lions are just using a salary cap stipulation that rewards teams for developing players and staying loyal to them. How to qualify for the Four-Year Player Qualifying Contract The relevant Collective Bargaining Agreement rule is called the “Four-Year Player Qualifying Contract. ” You can read the entire terms of this rule , but here’s the short of it.