Each NFL team’s worst contract on the books entering 2019
By Brad Weiss
Detroit Lions: Ricky Wagner
Over the past couple of years, the Detroit Lions have made a concerted effort to revamp their offensive line. They have brought in free agents like Ricky Wagner and T.J. Lang to protect Matthew Stafford, who they backed the Brinks truck up for heading into the 2017 NFL season.
As one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, Stafford was expected to lead this team to the playoffs every season, but has never shown he can win big games. The Lions have a ton of money locked up in Stafford and cornerback Darius Slay, who combine to equal nearly 25 percent of the team’s salary cap.
The third-highest paid player on Detroit is right tackle Ricky Wagner, who the team made the highest-paid right tackle in football in 2017 as well. He has missed time in the last two seasons with ankle and head injuries. All the while, the Lions have been one of the more pedestrian teams in the NFC.
When it comes to right tackles, Wagner is certainly a good one, but investing so much money on that position seems unnecessary. They already have spent way too much money on Stafford. Based on how mediocre this franchise has been as of late, the Lions have some serious cap work to do this offseason.