Ameer Abdullah, running back, Detroit Lions
It seems like ages ago that Abdullah was being compared to Barry Sanders. In reality, that was just a couple years back.
Since then, Abdullah has struggled to stay on the field due to injuries. Last year, he missed all but two games, suffering a foot injury that landed him on IR.
Abdullah is extremely talented. He’s quick. He’s fast. He can make huge plays on the ground and through the air. The Lions are absolutely better when he’s able to play.
Originally a second-round pick out of Nebraska, Abdullah needs to prove he’s durable enough to play through an entire season. If he suffers another injury or ends up getting worn down by a heavy workload, then the Lions will absolutely need to find more reliable production next season.
In terms of the overall salary cap, cutting Abdullah during the offseason won’t hardly amount to anything, as he’ll count just $320,600 in dead cap in that case. Needless to say, he has a lot to gain with a big season, and a lot to lose.