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Detroit Lions still have to pay for Ndamukong Suh in 2015, even though he’s in Miami

By Josh Hill

Dec 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions lost Ndamukong Suh this offseason to the Miami Dolphins, but they’re still on the hook for almost $10 million of his salary in 2015. 

The Ndamukong Suh era in Detroit is over, but the Lions aren’t done paying for their time with the All-Pro defensive tackle, even though he has taken his talents to Miami. There is still hope that the Lions will somehow steal Suh back from the Dolphins, but it appears he’s locked into signing a six-year, $114 million contract as soon as he possibly can.

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But the real kicker isn’t the fact that the Lions are losing Suh, it’s that they’re going to have to still pay him in 2015 despite his not being around.

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, after you crunch the numbers on two contract reconstructions that Suh and the Lions worked out, there will be almost $10 million in dead money that the Lions will be out of in 2015.

"All told, Suh will count $9,737,500 in “dead” money against this year’s cap. That includes the $3.47 million from his option bonus, $2.4275 million from his first contract restructuring and $3.84 million from his second."

This truly adds insult to injury, as the Lions not only offered Suh very fair market value, but they now have to pay for him regardless of whether he stayed or not. He didn’t stay and there’s still a bill to foot for Suh even though he’s going to be wearing a different uniform in 2015.

The Lions can thank the Raiders for driving up Suh’s price in free agency, but they can thank themselves for the way they managed Suh’s contract over the years. The front office went about paying for Suh in a way that has them on the hook for almost $10 million for a player they don’t even have.

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