Simply earlier than final 12 months’s draft, the Lions secured their future by signing each offensive deal with Penei Sewell and vast receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to long-term extensions. This 12 months, 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 prime offers within the league, however Joseph’s $86M in complete worth is greater than Antoine Winfield Jr.’s $84.1M. Winfield additionally held the best common annual worth at $21.03M per 12 months, which might be eclipsed by Joseph’s $21.5M each year.
We knew all the best way again when the Lions received eradicated from the playoffs that they’d be exploring an extension for his or her All-Professional security this offseason. They reiterated these intentions earlier this month, as effectively, including that star defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson‘s anticipated extension was additionally on the docket.
The explanation Joseph’s extension possible took precedence over Hutchinson’s is that, not like Hutchinson, Joseph was not a first-round choose. As a first-round choice, Hutchinson’s rookie contract features a fifth-year possibility that the staff can train to increase his obligations to the staff for a 12 months longer than the usual four-year rookie deal. Due to this, Hutchinson and Lions will possible have lots extra time to work out an extension. Joseph, however, was headed into the ultimate 12 months 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 12 months.
The Lions will hope that securing Joseph will give them the league’s prime defensive backfield duo within the NFL for years to come back. Right this moment’s extension ensures that Joseph will return alongside Brian Department subsequent 12 months. Department, a Professional Bowler final 12 months with seven interceptions and 29 passes defensed in his first two seasons, was drafted within the second spherical a 12 months 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 possible 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.
