Inside the Article:
The Detroit Lions have released veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers in an expected move that opens up $10 million in cap space. Brockers was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in a trade two years ago. He played very little in 2022 and he made very little impact when he did play. Despite his reduced playing time, Brockers remained a team captain and maintained his leadership role. By cutting Brockers, the Lions now have additional room to re-sign their own free agents and address their needs in free agency.
Key points:
- Detroit Lions have released veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers
- The move creates $10 million in cap space for the team
- Brockers played sparingly last season, making little impact on the field
- Despite his reduced playing time, Brockers remained a team captain and maintained his leadership role
- The Lions have 15 unrestricted free agents, including eight starters
- The move gives the Lions more room to re-sign their own free agents and address their defensive needs in free agency, while still having room to sign their draft class
Big Picture: By cutting Michael Brockers, the Lions save $10 million
The release of Brockers is part of the Lions' ongoing focus on youth on their defensive line. Despite being a team captain, Brockers played very little last season and had little impact on the field. With his release, the Lions will have an additional $10 million in cap space, and they can now focus on re-signing their own free agents and potentially bringing in younger players to fill Brockers' role. The move also creates much-needed cap space for the team to address their defensive needs in free agency.
What They Are Saying
“I know I can still play,” Brockers told the Free Press. “I know I can still play in this league physically. Mentally, it’s a thing that I’m kind of thinking about, but other than that, not really. I’m just finishing this year out strong and get into the offseason and see what happens after that.”
STATEMENT FROM LIONS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BRAD HOLMES AND HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL
“We would like to thank Michael Brockers for his leadership over the last two seasons. As one of our team captains in 2022, Brock's veteran voice and presence were instrumental in helping guide and develop our young locker room. He is one of the true professionals of our game and we have the highest respect for him as a man. We wish him and his family well on their next chapter.”
Following nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2012-20) and two with the Lions (2021-22), Brockers' career totals include 160 games played (157 starts), 451 tackles (274 solo), 64 quarterback hits, 52 tackles for loss and 29.0 sacks.
