Detroit Lions: 10 Players Who Could Be Gone in 2017

Brandon Pettigrew

The biggest guarantee on this list might be Brandon Pettigrew, whose 2016 season came to an odd end this week. Pettigrew was thought to be unlikely to return in 2016 until a major knee injury late last season complicated the Lions’ ability to move on. He was put on the PUP list and agreed to a restructured contract with a split pay rate – a lower weekly salary rate for his time on the PUP list and a higher rate that would kick in whenever he was activated.

The original guaranteed money on his four-year deal was over after the 2015 season but he picked up some additional guarantees as part of the restructuring of his deal while the Lions saved some money until Pettigrew was ready to return to action. A win-win, it appeared.

But Pettigrew was never activated to the active roster. He is reportedly healthy but the Lions placed him on the Non-football injury list this week, ending his season. Dave Birkett goes on to report in the Detroit Free Press that the team has removed Pettigrew’s nameplate and cleaned out his locker at the team’s facility and that his release is coming “at some point in the near future.” His season, and probably his Lions career, comes to an end clouded in mystery.

There is one year remaining on Pettigrew’s contract, but it comes with a cap number of $5.35 million. The Lions can release Pettigrew in the offseason to clear $4.35 million from their 2017 salary cap with just $1 million remaining as dead money. That’s an easy decision, especially with the way things have played out this week.