Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images A deeper look at Kyle Allen’s contract with the Detroit Lions and what it says about Hendon Hooker and the backup QB situation. When Kyle Allen signed with the Detroit Lions, it caused a bit of a scuttlebutt regarding the team’s backup q uarterback situation. Are the Lions unhappy with Hendon Hooker’s progress or did Detroit simply want a veteran quarterback in the room—something they have lacked when Teddy Bridgewater has been away? Well, the contract details of Allen are out, and it certainly provides some insight into what the Lions are thinking with this free agency signing. Kyle Allen — one-year, $1.27 million — $100,000 guaranteed Source: Over The Cap Base salary: $1.17 million Signing bonus: $100,000 Cap hit: $1.13 million As a veteran with at least four years of experience, Allen is receiving the veteran minimum salary at $1.17 million. His signing bonus of $100,000—the only guaranteed money in his contract—is relatively low. For comparison’s sake, undrafted rookies OL Kingsley Eguakun ($245,000) and WR Isaiah Williams ($240,000) both earned more than double the guarantees in their contracts last year—and LB Steele Chambers earned $90,000. You may have noticed that Allen’s cap hit is actually less than his overall salary. That’s due to a stipulation called the Veteran Salary Benefit. Here’s how it’s explained by the NFL: Formerly known as the minimum salary benefit, the veteran salary benefit allows teams to offer a “Qualifying Contract” to any player with at least four credited seasons at a reduced salary cap hit. Under this provision, a qualifying contract is a one-year deal worth the minimum base salary applicable to a player with his number of credited seasons, plus $167,500 in additional compensation (i.e., signing bonus, roster bonus, incentive, etc.). These contracts are charged against the salary cap at the rate of a player with two credited seasons that league year. So Allen’s cap hit reflects a player with a base salary of $1.03 million, and with the $100,000 signing bonus, that totals a $1.13 million cap hit. Now, in order for Allen’s contract to qualify for this benefit, it requires at least $167,500 in additional compensation beyond his salary. We know of the $100,000 signing bonus, but this suggests that Allen also has some unreported incentives tied to his deal that total at least $67,500. So, presumably, if Allen can make the roster or even get some playing time, he could earn more money with the Lions. But what does this say about the backup competition? With so little guaranteed money tied to Allen, it’s clear that Hooker should still be considered the favorite to win the job. Allen is not making backup quarterback money, and the fact that he accepted this contract suggests there aren’t many teams around the NFL that view him as a primary backup. Compare his deal to some other backup quarterbacks in the NFL: Marcus Mariota: One year, $8 million Jacoby Brissett: Two years, $12.5 million Zach Wilson: One year, $6 million Jarrett Stidham: Two years, $12 million Mason Rudolph: Two years, $8 million Joshua Dobbs: Two years, $8 million If the Lions wanted to invest in a backup quarterback—a player who would truly compete with Hooker—they could’ve, but it would have required nearly four times what they paid. That isn’t to say Hooker will have the job handed to him. No player walks onto the practice field in Allen Park with a job locked up. But it’s very clear from Detroit’s low investment in competition that the Lions believe Hooker has the best opportunity to win the job. ...read more read less