The Lions gave the biggest contract of the 2019 NFL offseason to Trey Flowers: $90 million, $56 million guaranteed. 10.5 sacks and 20 missed games later, they're cutting him loose.
The Lions have informed Flowers that he will be released on the first day of the new league year next week, according to Dave Birkett. He had two years left on his deal.
By doing so, Detroit will save $10.4 million against the cap in 2022 and $18 million in 2023.
A former Patriot, Flowers was signed by the Bob Quinn-Matt Patricia regime to be a star on the Lions' defensive line and a leader in their locker room. Injuries limited him to the latter.
Flowers was solid in his first season, totaling seven sacks, eight tackles for loss and 35 QB pressures in 15 games. But he played in just 14 games over the ensuing two seasons with 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and 14 QB pressures.
He ended last season on injured reserve after battling knee and shoulder injuries for much of the year.
As the Lions rebuild their defense under GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, they had almost no choice but to let Flowers go. He was swallowing cap room without making an impact on the field.
The Lions plan to be active in free agency and now they'll have about $35 million in cap space, one of the highest figures in the NFL.
Flowers' release will leave them with dead cap hits of $12.8 million and $5.6 million, respectively.