Lions Free Agent Signings: Full Contract Details for Teddy Bridgewater, Ben Bartch, Avonte Maddox, and Chuck Clark

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and his staff finalized contract details for four remaining free-agent signings on Tuesday, revealing additional salary-cap savings through strategic structuring of veteran deals.

The Lions announced the terms for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, offensive lineman Ben Bartch, cornerback Avonte Maddox, and safety Chuck Clark, all of whom agreed to one-year contracts that minimize immediate cap impact while providing roster depth.

Bridgewater’s contract carries a $1.8 million cap hit for the 2026 season, consisting of a $1.4 million base salary (fully guaranteed), a $187,500 signing bonus, and a $212,500 game roster bonus. The deal includes $1.5875 million in guaranteed money at signing, with a dead cap value of the same amount if released before June 1.

Ben Bartch signed a one-year deal worth $1.215 million in base salary, though his cap hit is listed at $1.075 million due to the Lions’ use of the Veteran Salary Benefit. This mechanism reduces the cap charge for veterans with six or more credited seasons to reflect the minimum salary for a two-year player, providing roster flexibility without sacrificing experience.

While specific financial details for Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark were not itemized in the primary source material, both players were confirmed as part of the group of four late free-agent signings whose contracts were made public on salary-cap tracking sites OverTheCap and Spotrac on Tuesday morning.

The Lions’ approach this offseason has emphasized value-oriented signings, with most contracts structured at modest terms to preserve cap space for future moves. Holmes has consistently prioritized short-term, low-risk agreements that allow the team to evaluate talent while maintaining financial agility.

Bridgewater, entering his 11th NFL season, is expected to serve as the backup quarterback behind Jared Goff unless unforeseen circumstances arise during or after the NFL draft. His $1.8 million cap hit ranks 57th among all NFL quarterbacks for the 2026 season, placing him between Buffalo’s Kyle Allen and New England’s Tommy DeVito in terms of positional salary.

The team has not indicated any plans to alter the current quarterback hierarchy, with Goff entering the second year of his four-year extension signed in 2024. Bridgewater’s role remains focused on providing veteran leadership and preparation support within the quarterback room.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Lions had not released additional contract specifics for Maddox or Clark, nor had they announced any further free-agent additions. The organization continues to monitor the market while operating within the constraints of the 2026 salary cap, which is projected to exceed $255 million league-wide.