Lions Make $38 Million Decision as Amon-Ra St Brown & Penei Sewell's Contracts Restructured

Ahead of the Detroit Lions’ 2026 season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Ford Field, the team has reworked contracts to create major salary-cap room. The restructuring follows an earlier move that adjusted QB Jared Goff’s deal, but this time it targets star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and left tackle Penei Sewell. Over the Cap reports $38.2 million in new cap space, ranking Detroit just behind the San Francisco 49ers at $45.5 million. The Lions converted $26 million from St. Brown into a signing bonus, lowering his 2026 cap hit by $20.8 million, while Sewell’s $18.6 million salary was converted to a bonus, cutting his cap figure to $18.9 million.