The contract details for Detroit Lions free agency signing Payton Turner are out, and they’re exactly what you’d expect. The fifth-year defensive end is essentially getting the bare minimum deal from Detroit, and as it’s being reported initially, there appears to be no guaranteed money attached to the contract.
Payton Turner contract terms: one-year, $1.145 million (no guarantees)
Sources: Aaron Wilson, Over The Cap
Base salary: $1.145 million
Total cap hi: $1.145 million
Dead cap if cut: $0
Turner is receiving the literal veteran minimum, as a player with three credited seasons. With none of that salary guaranteed and no workout or game bonuses, this is literally a no-risk move for the Lions. If Turner doesn’t make the team, Detroit will face no dead cap. If he does make the team, he’ll be making the literal minimum of a player with his level experience.
It’s easy to see why the Lions offered this kind of contract and Turner accepted. The 27-year-old defensive end has seen his football career plagued with injuries, even dating back to his college years in Houston. He’s had a foot injury, shoulder injury, low ankle sprain, another foot injury (requiring surgery), and missed all of 2025 with a rib fracture. In total, he’s only played in 31 of 85 game opportunities.
And even when he has played, his productivity has been limited. He has yet to start an NFL game, never logged more than 40 snaps in a single game, and only has 5.0 career sacks with 11 quarterback hits and 50 total tackles.
That said, there are some potential upsides to this add. For one, the New Orleans Saints drafted him in the first round due to some serious athletic potential. He’s built well at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds and has the athleticism to go with that size.
Additionally, he did play 16 games in 2024 and had some decent production as a rotational player. In 335 snaps (21 per game), Turner produced 21 tackles, 2.0 sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and a decent 70.8 pass rush grade from PFF.
So, in short, this is a zero-risk signing from the Lions on a player that has good physical traits and one full season of promising production.
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