Lions 'optimistic' about keeping Ndamukong Suh

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew expressed optimism at the combine on Wednesday, that the team would be able to keep pending free agent Ndamukong Suh on the roster this season.

Mayhew added that a number of considerations for re-signing Suh were already in place, clearing the way for a final deal. It's still no lock, and the Lions have the option of using the franchise tag to keep Suh around for 2015, albeit at a cost of $26 million in guaranteed money. The Lions' GM would not rule out using the tag if they can't get a deal done ahead of the March 2 deadline to apply the tag.

Progress has been slow on a new deal for Suh, who is potentially looking at one of the richest contracts in NFL history. Most feel he's worth it though, it's just that trying to find space for that kind of deal is difficult in any situation. Suh doesn't need to "test" the market to know he's going to be the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, after all.

Many suggested that Suh could wind up getting franchise tagged this offseason, and it's still not out of the question. The problem is that franchise tag is massive given the multiple restructures the Lions have asked of Suh over the years. On two separate occasions, Suh restructured his deal in such a way that converted portions of his base salary into signing bonuses that were distributed at the end of his contract.

Because the tag pays an average amount of cap money spent on the position over the last five years or 120 percent of a player's previous season's cap number, Detroit dug itself into a hole. Suh's tag would be north of $26 million, thanks to the aforementioned signing bonuses applying in the final year of his deal, 2014. On top of that, the Lions already have $9.7 million against the cap in dead money for 2015 and that number cannot be eliminated. If he's tagged, it's there. If he re-signs, it's there. And if he leaves for another team, it's there.

If the Lions felt confident in getting a deal done for Suh in the end, they can still franchise tag him before the March 2 deadline. Then, they would have until July 15 to void the tag and sign a long-term contract.

Suh, despite getting in trouble with the league and earning something of a reputation for "dirty" play, has been named to four Pro Bowls and has been named a first team All-Pro four times as well. He was the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, and has 239 tackles, 36.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in his career.