Lions' proposed cut candidate might wind up eventually making sense

With the third-most cap space in the NFL right now, according to Over The Cap, and few (if any) other moves to be made this offseason, the Detroit Lions also don't have a lot of incapacitating salary cap numbers on their 2025 books.

Of course circumstances could change, but the Lions don't have to do anything with the roster and they can feel good about that.

With that in mind it's hard to give the Lions a clear-cut candidate to be cut, as June 1 looms and the circumstances of a move would generally tilt favorable from a cap savings and dead money perspective.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has offered the best player who could still be cut from every NFL roster this offseason.

For the Lions, he went with wide receiver Kalif Raymond.

."..Raymond might not get a lot of attention from non-Lions fans, but he's been a solid contributor over the past four years. He topped 480 yards in three straight seasons before last year's 215-yard campaign."

After mentioning the wide receiver depth the Lions have brought back or added (Tim Patrick, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett), Knox noted what could save Raymond.

"Raymond's punt-return ability might be enough to save his roster spot in 2025, but if another returner emerges, Detroit could save $3.6 million in cap space by cutting the 30-year-old."

Per Erik Schlitt and Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, the Lions restructured Raymond's contract in late-March. That move shaved off a 2026 void year that was in his original deal, as Raymond took an overall pay cut but had more guarantees pushed into 2025. His 2025 cap hit went up by $500,000, to $6.95 million.

With all of that, there's not much salary cap benefit for the Lions to move on from Raymond. According to Over The Cap, cutting him before or after June 1 would create a $6.43 million dead money hit with $520,000 in cap savings. A trade would be more beneficial, dropping the dead money hit to $4.6 million with $2.35 million in cap savings.

Moving on from Kalif Raymond could eventually make sense for the Lions

Raymond is one of the best punt returners in the NFL. Last season, despite missing five games, due to a foot injury, he led the league in punt return yards (413) while also finishing third in the league in punt return average (13.8).

But as Knox hinted, Raymond's role in the Lions' offense continued to erode in 2024. After averaging 20.5 offensive snaps per game in 2023, he averaged 17.6 offensive snaps per game last year as he tallied just 17 receptions for 215 yards.

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If TeSlaa or Lovett makes a case for a notable offensive role right away, or one or both are given a shot at punt return work during OTAs, training camp and the preseason with an eye on the future (Raymond is entering the final year of his contract), "Leaf", as Dan Campbell calls him, might become relatively expendable.

If Raymond doesn't keep a firm hold on punt return duties, his projected offensive role is not enough to guarantee him a spot on the Lions' roster. Moving on from him remains incredibly unlikely, but it can go into the "there's a non-zero chance" category if things go a very specific way between now and Week 1.

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