Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Detroit Lions have nearly $19 million in available salary cap space, and they don’t plan on using any of it to sign defensive end Ziggy Ansah to a new contract, for now.

Ansah, arguably the best pick of the 2013 NFL draft, is entering the final season of his rookie contract, though the Lions can control his rights for several more years.

The Lions have not yet approached Ansah’s representatives about a new contract and instead are expected to pick up the 2017 option on his current deal, at a cost of more than $13 million.

They can keep Ansah in Detroit for up to three additional seasons by using the franchise tag, though it’s unlikely that the tag would come into play beyond 2018. The franchise tag rises by 20% in the second year it’s used, and a player is entitled to top quarterback money if the tag is used in three consecutive seasons.

Prices for defensive linemen have skyrocketed in recent years, with Ndamukong Suh landing a record six-year, $114-million deal last year and Olivier Vernon getting $85 million over five years (with $40.5 million guaranteed) this month. Vernon, 25, has 29 sacks in four seasons and never has made a Pro Bowl.

Ansah, who turns 27 in May (and potentially would play his first season under the tag as a 29-year-old), is coming off of his first Pro Bowl appearance and had a career-high 14.5 sacks last year, the second-most in Lions history.

The Lions have several key players entering the final year of their rookie contracts, including left tackle Riley Reiff, cornerback Darius Slay, right guard Larry Warford, running back Theo Riddick and punter Sam Martin.

Slay changed agents earlier this year, with the purpose of signing a contract extension, and the Lions met with his new representative, Drew Rosenhaus, at the NFL combine last month.

Martin also recently changed agents and could be in line for a new contract at some point.

The Lions have just one other defensive end on their roster who contributed last fall -- 2013 draft pick Devin Taylor -- and are still looking for rotational help at the position in free agency.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@davebirkett.

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