This summer, the Detroit Lions offered Brock Wright a one-year, $2.985 million restricted free agent tender. However, the youthful tight end decided to test the market to determine his worth following three good seasons in Detroit. The San Francisco 49ers came calling and offered what appeared to be a hefty raise: a contract worth $12 million over three years with $6 million guaranteed.
The Lions have to decide whether to match the agreement or let him depart. They chose to keep him, matching the contract the 49ers negotiated for the previously undrafted tight end. And now that we have the contract information for the agreement, we can see why the Lions matched it.
Brock Wright’s contract is for three years and $12 million, with a signing bonus of $3.545 million in 2024.
$1,055,000 base wage is guaranteed.
$709,000 prorated signing bonus
$50,000 fitness bonus.
The $1,764,000 maximum is set to be reached in 2025.
$1,170,000 base salary.
$709,000 prorated signing bonus
$445,000 option bonus.
$255,000 roster bonus.
$50,000 fitness bonus.
The $2,629,000 ceiling is set for 2026.
$3,310,000 base wage.
$709,000 prorated signing bonus
$445,000 option bonus.
$340,000 roster bonus.
$50,000 fitness bonus.
$4,854,000 cap hit.
Dead cap: $2,127,000 if cut by 2027 (voided).
Dead cap: $1,418,000 (two signing bonus prorations).
As you can see above, the cap hit for the next two years is significantly less than it would have been if Wright had simply signed his one-year RFA tender of $2.985 million. The contract employs voided years to spread out Wright’s signing bonus, and the inclusion of unguaranteed option, roster, and workout bonuses provides Wright with plenty of incentive to continue performing at a high level.
Obviously, the third year of Wright’s contract marks a big increase. And, while Wright has a possibility of earning that $3.3 million salary, most players do not earn their last year of contract.
Even yet, the Lions are in pretty excellent shape: the contract includes an out clause that would cost them only $2.127 million in dead cap if they cut him after two years. So, if you combine the first two years of cap with the dead cap in Year 3, you get a two-year, $6.52 million contract, which sounds considerably more reasonable and fair than a three-year, $12 million deal.
Finally, Wright deserves credit for securing significantly more guaranteed pay and an additional year of job security. And excellent on the Lions for matching a fair deal that will only cost them slightly more than their original offer—rather than seeking to solve an immediate tight end need in the upcoming draft.
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