Simply earlier than final yr’s draft, the Lions secured their future by signing both offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to long-term extensions. This yr, they’ve determined to do the identical, rewarding a first-team All-Professional season by making Kerby Joseph the highest-paid security within the NFL. Per NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Joseph and Detroit have agreed to a four-year, $86M extension.
We don’t have any assured numbers on the deal but to stack towards the present high offers within the league, however Joseph’s $86M in complete worth is greater than Antoine Winfield Jr.’s $84.1M. Winfield additionally held the very best common annual worth at $21.03M per yr, which will likely be eclipsed by Joseph’s $21.5M every year.
We knew all the way in which again when the Lions obtained eradicated from the playoffs that they might be exploring an extension for his or her All-Professional security this offseason. They reiterated those intentions earlier this month, as nicely, including that star defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson‘s anticipated extension was additionally on the docket.
The rationale Joseph’s extension doubtless took precedence over Hutchinson’s is that, not like Hutchinson, Joseph was not a first-round decide. As a first-round choice, Hutchinson’s rookie contract features a fifth-year choice that the staff can train to increase his obligations to the staff for a yr longer than the usual four-year rookie deal. Due to this, Hutchinson and Lions will doubtless have lots extra time to work out an extension. Joseph, then again, was headed into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract.
In simply three years of play, Joseph has already established himself as one of many league’s greatest on the place. Not solely did he lead the NFL with 9 interceptions in 2024, however he additionally led the league in interceptions since he entered the league in 2022 with 17. Add in 31 passes defensed and 247 tackles and Joseph has confirmed that he deserves to be awarded with an All-Professional choice this yr.
The Lions will hope that securing Joseph will give them the league’s high defensive backfield duo within the NFL for years to come back. In the present day’s extension ensures that Joseph will return alongside Brian Branch subsequent yr. Department, a Professional Bowler final yr with seven interceptions and 29 passes defensed in his first two seasons, was drafted within the second spherical a yr after Joseph. Each safeties have been ranked as top-five safeties per Professional Soccer Focus (subscription required), with Joseph notching the place’s highest total and protection grade and Department notching the place’s greatest run protection grade. Department will doubtless be a goal for extension himself within the subsequent offseason.
For now, although, the Lions will rejoice of their securing of Joseph and elimination of security as a place of want within the draft. It was by no means thought-about a place that wanted enchancment, however with Joseph on a long-term deal, there’s no hazard of needing to draft a security to finally take over for a free agent departure.
