A look at the new contract for Lions punter Jack Fox

The Detroit Lions made Jack Fox the highest-paid punter in the NFL a couple weeks ago, and here are the details of the new deal.

As good as he has been over the last two-plus seasons, the Detroit Lions were going to have to pay Jack Fox eventually. Less than two weeks ago, the two sides indeed agreed to a contract extension that will make Fox the highest-paid punter in the NFL (based on annual average).

Fox is now under contract in Detroit through the 2026 season, as the team initially announced when they announced the deal.

According to Over The Cap, Fox’s deal is a four-year, $14.96 million deal. That’s $3.74 million per year, exceeding the $3.675 million average Seattle Seahawks punter Michael Dickson got in his new deal last spring.

Contract details: Lions punter Jack Fox

Per Over the Cap, here are the deeper details of Fox’s new contract.

Signing Bonus: $1.75 million

2023: $2.115 million base salary, $350,000 prorated signing bonus, $1.1 million roster bonus, $3.565 million cap hit

2024: $2.975 million base salary (becomes guaranteed on March 20, 2023), $350,000 prorated signing bonus, $150,000 workout bonus, $3.475 million cap hit

2025: $2.7 million base salary, $350,000 prorated signing bonus, $150,000 workout bonus, $3.2 million cap hit

2026: $2.725 million base salary, $350,000 prorated signing bonus, $250,000 roster bonus (comes due on March 20), $150,000 workout bonus, $3.475 milion cap hit

If Fox’ performance should fall off, here are the final impacts of cutting him in 2024-2026 (via Over The Cap).

2024: Pre-June 1 cut-$2.425 million cap savings, $1.050 million dead money
Post-June 1-$3.125 million cap savings, $350,000 dead money

2025: Pre-June 1 cut-$2.5 million cap savings, $700,000 dead money
Post-June 1 cut-$2.85 million cap savings, $350,000 dead money

2026: Pre-June 1 cut-$3.125 million cap savings, $350,000 dead money
Post-June 1 cut-same as Pre-June 1 cut

After setting Lions’ franchise records for raw punting average (49.1 yards) and net average (44.8 yards) in 2020, Fox landed close to those marks in 2021 (49.2 and 42.3 yards respectively). Through seven games this year, he’s averaging 49.6 yards per punt (sixth in the league) with a 40.3 yard net average.