Cade Mays

Detroit Lions, Center

Age: 26y-11m-3d (Apr 26, 1999)

Exp: 4 Years

Country: US

College: Tennessee

Drafted: Round 6 (#199 overall), 2022

Agent(s): Jeremy Newberry (Octagon)

2026 Cap Hit

$2,771,000

2026 Cash

$8,000,000

Career Earnings

$6,309,258

2026-2028 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Cade Mays signed a 3 year, $25,000,000 contract with the Detroit Lions, including $6,480,000 signing bonus, $14,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8,333,333. In 2026, Mays will earn a base salary of $1,215,000, a signing bonus of $6,480,000 and a workout bonus of $50,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,771,000 and a dead cap value of $14,000,000.

Contract Terms:

3 yr(s) / $25,000,000

Average Salary:

$8,333,333

Signing Bonus:

$6,480,000

GTD at Sign:

$14,000,000

Total GTD:

$14,000,000

Free Agent:

2029 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2026	27		$2,771,000	0.92%	$8,000,000	$8,000,000	$14,000,000
2027	28		$9,296,000	2.88%	$8,000,000	$16,000,000	$11,184,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 2 YR, $16,000,000; $3,888,000 DEAD CAP
2028	29		$4,384,000	1.23%	$9,000,000	$25,000,000	$3,888,000
2029	30	Void UFA	$2,774,000	0.74%	-	$25,000,000	$2,592,000
2030		Void	$2,774,000	0.70%	-	$25,000,000	-
2031		Void	$1,478,000	0.34%	-	$25,000,000	-
2032		Void	$1,478,000	-	-	$25,000,000	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Proration	Active/GM Roster Bonus	Option Proration	Workout Bonus	Cap Hit	Cap % League	Dead Cap
2026	27		$1,215,000	$1,296,000	$210,000	-	$50,000	$2,771,000	0.92%	$14,000,000	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $14,000,000 2026 Savings: $-11,229,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $6,480,000 2026 Savings: $-3,709,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2026 Dead Cap: $8,816,000 2027 Dead Cap: $5,184,000 2026 Savings: $-6,045,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $8,816,000 2027 Dead Cap: $5,184,000 2026 Savings: $-6,045,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $1,296,000 2027 Dead Cap: $5,184,000 2026 Savings: $1,475,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2027	28		$7,695,000	$1,296,000	$255,000	-	$50,000	$9,296,000	2.88%	$11,184,000	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $11,184,000 2027 Savings: $-1,888,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $5,184,000 2027 Savings: $4,112,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2027 Dead Cap: $7,296,000 2028 Dead Cap: $3,888,000 2027 Savings: $2,000,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $7,296,000 2028 Dead Cap: $3,888,000 2027 Savings: $2,000,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $1,296,000 2028 Dead Cap: $3,888,000 2027 Savings: $8,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 2 YR, $16,000,000; $3,888,000 DEAD CAP
2028	29		$1,305,000	$1,296,000	$255,000	$1,478,000	$50,000	$4,384,000	1.23%	$3,888,000	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $3,888,000 2028 Savings: $496,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $3,888,000 2028 Savings: $496,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2028 Dead Cap: $1,296,000 2029 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2028 Savings: $3,088,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $1,296,000 2029 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2028 Savings: $3,088,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $1,296,000 2029 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2028 Savings: $3,088,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2029	30	Void UFA	-	$1,296,000	-	$1,478,000	-	$2,774,000	0.74%	$2,592,000	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2029 Savings: $182,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2029 Savings: $182,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2029 Savings: $2,774,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2029 Savings: $2,774,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $2,592,000 2029 Savings: $2,774,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2030		Void	-	$1,296,000	-	$1,478,000	-	$2,774,000	0.70%	-	2030 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $2,774,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $2,774,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $2,774,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $2,774,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $2,774,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2031		Void	-	-	-	$1,478,000	-	$1,478,000	0.34%	-	2031 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $1,478,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $1,478,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $1,478,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $1,478,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $1,478,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2032		Void	-	-	-	$1,478,000	-	$1,478,000	-	-	2032 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $1,478,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $1,478,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2033 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $1,478,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2033 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $1,478,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2033 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $1,478,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Bonus	Active/Gm Roster Bonus	Option Bonus	Workout Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Cash Remaining
2026	27		$1,215,000	$6,480,000	$255,000	-	$50,000	$8,000,000	$8,000,000	$25,000,000
2027	28		$7,695,000	-	$255,000	-	$50,000	$8,000,000	$16,000,000	$17,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 2 YR, $16,000,000; $3,888,000 DEAD CAP
2028	29		$1,305,000	-	$255,000	$7,390,000	$50,000	$9,000,000	$25,000,000	$9,000,000
2029	30	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	$25,000,000	-
2030	31	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	$25,000,000	-
2031	32	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	$25,000,000	-
2032	33	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	$25,000,000	-

Contract Notes

$14M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2026 compensation + $6M of 2027 salary)
Per Game Active Bonus: $15,000 ($255,000)
2028 Option Bonus: $7.39M
2029-2032 years automatically void

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2025-2025 Restricted Tender

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $3,406,000

Average Salary:

$3,406,000

Signing Bonus:

N/A

GTD at Sign:

Total GTD:

Free Agent:

2026 / UFA

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2024-2024

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $985,000

Average Salary:

$985,000

Signing Bonus:

N/A

GTD at Sign:

Total GTD:

Free Agent:

2025 / RFA

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2022-2025 Rookie

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $3,833,076

Average Salary:

$958,269

Signing Bonus:

$173,076

GTD at Sign:

$173,076

Total GTD:

$173,076

Free Agent:

2026 / UFA

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Seasons

4 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$6,309,258

Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2022	23	Active	$878,076	$878,076
2023	24	Active	$870,000	$1,748,076
2024	25	Active Retained	$1,079,162 $67,200	$2,827,238 $2,894,438
2025	26	Active	$3,414,820	$6,309,258
Total			$6,309,258	$6,309,258
2026	27	Active	$8,000,000
2027	28	Active	$8,000,000
2028	29	Active	$9,000,000
Total			$31,309,258

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
4		$5,637,667	$173,076	-	-	$8,820	$422,495	$6,242,058
1		$67,200	-	-	-	-	-	$67,200

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Option	Workout	Incentives	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2022	23	$705,000	$173,076				$878,076	$878,076
2023	24	$870,000					$870,000	$1,748,076
2024	25	$656,667 $67,200				$422,495	$1,079,162 $67,200	$2,827,238 $2,894,438
2025	26	$3,406,000			$8,820		$3,414,820	$6,309,258
Total		$5,704,867	$173,076		$8,820	$422,495	$6,309,258	$6,309,258
2026	27	$1,215,000	$6,480,000		$50,000		$8,000,000
2027	28	$7,695,000			$50,000		$8,000,000
2028	29	$1,305,000		$7,390,000	$50,000		$9,000,000
Total		$15,919,867	$6,653,076	$7,390,000	$158,820	$422,495	$31,309,258

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
4		$5,637,667	$173,076	-	-	$8,820	$422,495	$6,242,058
1		$67,200	-	-	-	-	-	$67,200

Mar 09, 2026 Signed a 3 year $25 million contract with Detroit (DET)
Mar 26, 2025 Signed a 1 year $3.406 million contract with Carolina (CAR)
Oct 08, 2024 Signed to the active roster by Carolina (CAR)
Sep 10, 2024 Signed to the practice squad by New York (NYG)
Aug 28, 2024 Waived by Carolina (CAR)
May 09, 2022 Signed a 4 year $3.83 million contract with Carolina (CAR)
Apr 30, 2022 Drafted by Carolina (CAR): Round 6 (#199 overall)

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%
2025	CAR	14	12	727	68.58
2024	CAR	11	8	495	47.92
2023	CAR	16	5	435	37.89
2022	CAR	11	2	51	5.02

Calculated Market Value

$12.3M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

3 years, $36,780,477
Avg. Salary: $12,260,159
NFL Rank: 239
C Rank: 4

Current Contract

Free Agent: 2029
Avg. Salary: $8,333,333
NFL Rank: 336
C Rank: 9

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Cade Mays to.

Player	Length	Value	Avg. Salary	Age When Signed
Connor McGovern	3	$22,350,000	$7,450,000	25
Robert Hainsey	3	$21,000,000	$7,000,000	26
Luke Fortner	1	$1,500,000	$1,500,000	26
Luke Wattenberg	4	$48,000,000	$12,000,000	28
Averages	3	$23,212,500	$6,987,500	26.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Mays's current age (26), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length	Value	Avg. Salary
3	$31,578,000	$10,526,000

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Mays statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, QB Hurries Allowed/Gm, QB Sacks Allowed/Gm, Rating

Player	GP%	Snaps %	QB Hurries Allowed/Gm	QB Sacks Allowed/Gm	Rating
Connor McGovern 2021-2022	91.18	59.45	0.83	0.10	60.90
Robert Hainsey 2023-2024	100.00	54.16	0.91	0.17	63.05
Luke Fortner 2023-2024	100.00	50.53	1.05	0.19	48.40
Luke Wattenberg 2023-2024	82.35	35.78	0.35	0.12	60.60
Average	93.38	49.98	0.79	0.15	58.24
Cade Mays 2024-2025	73.53	58.23	0.73	0.00	64.25
Pct Change	-21.26	16.51	7.59	100.00	10.32
Median Prime % Change					10.32%
Average Prime % Change					22.63%

Calculated Market Value: Cade Mays

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms	Avg. Salary
3 years, $36,780,477	$12,260,159

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