SmashMouth

With Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh opting to withhold services as part of an effort to get a new contract in lieu of showing up and preparing for a contract-year push that could get him paid plenty come 2015, the Lions are getting a taste of life without Suh.

With a cap number of $22.412 million in 2014, the last year of his contract, perhaps the smart move could be to start living without Suh permanently.

The Lions have made no secret about their interest in players who won’t be on the board at the top of the draft. So maybe Suh could be used to help the Lions move up from No. 10 to something higher.

It’s easy to say. As usual, it would be harder to do.

First, the Lions would have to find a team that wants Suh, who is due to be paid $12.55 million in 2014. And that team would have to be willing to extend Suh’s contract, or his stay would be a short one.

Second, the Lions would still absorb a large cap charge for trading Suh before June 1. While the $12.55 million in base salary would be avoided, $9.737 million in dead money due to apply to Detroit’s cap in 2015 under Suh’s name would be pushed into 2014. That creates a total cap charge of $19.5995 million.

The good news? That’s lower than the number the Lions would carry if Suh doesn’t sign a new contract. And a trade would clear $9.7375 million in 2015 dead money off the books by pushing it into 2014.

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