The Detroit Lions have informed Justin Coleman, the corner of the slot, that he will be released by the franchise, a source confirmed on Thursday by ESPN.
Coleman is the second Detroit defender to find out about his pending release this season, joining Desmond Trufant. Earlier this month, when head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Coleman and Trufant’s future with the club, he said those decisions would come. Now they have and both players will be elsewhere in 2021.
Coleman was scheduled to shell out $ 11,029 million against the ceiling in 2021, and depending on how he was designated for release, the lions could save up to $ 9 million if released after June 1. If not, the lions would save $ 6.971 million, according to the Roster Management System. Coleman’s release now prevents the Lions from guaranteeing $ 1.1 million of his $ 8.95 million base salary, which would have happened on the third day of the league’s new year, which begins on the 17th. March.
The Lions will carry $ 4.058 million in dead money due to Coleman’s release, sending the team’s total dead money for 2021 to well over $ 30 million – largely due to the $ 19 million in Matthew Stafford’s trade, which will be official at the beginning of the new year of the league.
Detroit is now thin on the corner with the departures of Coleman and Trufant, with only Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah and the recently signed Mike Ford on the position with significant experience playing for Detroit last year.
The NFL Network first reported Coleman’s pending release.
Coleman, 27, signed a four-year, $ 36 million contract with the Lions during the free agency in 2019, making him one of the highest paid corners of the slots at the time.
He started 16 games – mostly in the slot – since his arrival in Detroit, breaking 14 passes with a single interception. He also had three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, all in 2019.
Coleman left Tennessee indefinitely and played two seasons each in New England, Seattle and Detroit, appearing in 79 games (29 starts) and breaking 41 passes with four interceptions and two touchdowns. He also forced 4 fumbles, recovered 4 fumbles and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.