NFL players can never take too much solace in their future, but these five Detroit Lions have particular contract implications this year.
Given the nature of the sport and average length of career, NFL teams operate on a year-to-year basis when it comes to their rosters. Players are looking for a secure future, and a life-changing contract if they perform well.
The Detroit Lions have a young roster, and thus few big long-term commitments on their balance sheet right now. And some of those bigger commitments can be gotten out of pretty easily in 2023.
But some of the aforementioned younger players on the Lions’ roster are looking to prove worthy of a long-term commitment. The 2022 season looks pivotal to getting the kind of contract they seek, or simply securing some certainty moving forward.
With that, these five Detroit Lions have significant contract implications in 2022.
5 Detroit Lions with big contract implications in 2022
5. TE T.J. Hockenson
By all accounts, the Lions and Hockenson will agree to a long-term deal sooner as opposed to later. The team picked up his $9.4 million fifth-year option for 2023, but that feels like a placeholder for a new deal. His extension is line to stretch into the $10-$15 million per year range, after a tight end who has less of a resume (David Njoku) got a market-shifting deal in May.
If a deal is not done by Week 1, it could get done at any time. Hockenson has shown himself as a top-10 tight end in the league, and he should be paid like one.
In an alternate universe lived in by a small segment of Lions’ fans, James Mitchell was drafted in April to outright eventually replace Hockenson. Even with that new deal looking all but sure, it’s just a matter of timing, he’ll have to perform like a top-tier tight end in 2022 and beyond to justify it.
4. WR DJ Chark
Chark signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Lions in March, and that’s just what he’ll be looking to do. His 1,000-yard, eight touchdown Pro Bowl season in 2019 with the Jacksonville Jaguars feels like it was longer ago than that, after two injury-shortened seasons (just four games played in 2021) and amid the issues in Jacksonville.
Chark will turn 26 early in the season starts (Sept. 23), and at least while rookie Jameson Williams (torn ACL) gets to full strength and up to speed his role in the Lions’ offense should be significant. Target volume from the conservative/limited Jared Goff might be an issue, but Chark is big, fast and can certainly take advantage of every opportunity he gets.
As the wide receiver market boomed this offseason, Chark won’t get a deal anywhere near the top of the position next offseason. His deal with the Lions tacked on two void years to spread out the cap hit for his signing bonus, but if he plays well this season the team will surely be looking to restructure/extend him.
Chark can put himself back on the league’s radar with a nice 2022 season, and one way or another line himself for a multi-year deal next offseason. Or he could be signing another “prove-it” deal next March, with a team other than Detroit.
3. QB Jared Goff
Upon getting him in the Matthew Stafford trade last offseason, in the name of creating a bit of cap space in cap-suppressed year, the Lions restructured Goff’s contract and practically locked themselves into keeping him in 2022. So they’ve committed themselves to him for this year and given him the best situation they can.
Goff will carry momentum from a strong finish last season and what’s been a good offseason by all (however biased) accounts into the new season. Compared to this time a year ago, there are few if any excuses for him not to be better right off the bat in 2022.
Goff is likely not the long-term answer for the Lions under center. It’s only a matter of when they can replace him, and the anointed quarterback of the future may come in the 2023 draft with two first-round picks again.
But apart from his future in Detroit, when they can cut him with only $10 million in dead money in 2023, Goff could play well enough to land a solid deal elsewhere as someone’s starter if he plays well enough this year and the Lions don’t keep him.
The supply of capable NFL quarterbacks does not fill the demand. So Goff is playing to extend his run as a starter this year. Whatever uniform he’s wearing a year from now.
2. CB Jeff Okudah
Okudah’s first two NFL seasons have been hampered by major injuries, including a torn Achilles that sidelined him for the season in Week 1 last year. When he was on the field for nine games as a rookie, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft struggled.
The ship has probably sailed on Okudah fully justifying his lofty draft position. But after the draft two years ago Pro Football Focus pointed to his prowess as a man cover corner during his career at Ohio State. If that raw talent remains, it may only be a matter of Aaron Glenn and Aubrey Pleasant molding it into a capable NFL cornerback.
"In man coverage alone, Okudah allowed just 25 receptions from 62 total targets over the last three seasons, giving up just 325 yards and only two touchdowns while coming away with one interception and 13 total forced incompletions. His 61.6 passer rating allowed in man coverage since 2017 ranks 20th among the 131 cornerbacks who saw at least 30 targets in man coverage over that period."
The most critical thing for Okudah this year is getting and staying healthy. Everything else will fall from there, for better (if he plays well) or worse (if he plays poorly). The Lions will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option for 2024 by early May 2023, so there’s where the contract implications come in.
1. RB D’Andre Swift
There is no denying Swift’s potential. In technically 13 games last year, but 10 where he didn’t leave very early or have a limited workload, he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He is legitimately one of the best pass-catching backs in the league (62 receptions last year).
But Swift has work to do as a pure runner, which he appears to be taking seriously after looking bulked up at Lions’ offseason work. He has also missed seven games over two seasons, so staying on the field is a core part of his next step and his new physical build can only help there.
Running backs coach Duce Staley issued a challenge to Swift to play through stuff, but upon further review it’s hard to take much issue with the injuries that have sidelined him (concussion, sprained AC joint in his shoulder). In any case, Swift has to stay on the field to have any chance to reach his full potential.
As a second-round pick in 2020 (35th overall), Swift is entering the third year of his four-year rookie contract. The short shelf life of NFL running backs demands they get paid big when they can, if they can.
Swift can line himself up for a nice multi-year extension from the Lions with a big 2022 campaign, and the team would be inclined to oblige if he delivers that. Or, a year from now, they may be fine letting him play out his rookie deal after notably adding to their running back pipeline in free agency or the draft.
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