As a result of the savvy drafting that has been the core of their rise in recent years, the Detroit Lions have had and will continue to have major contract business to take care of as young stars graduate to second contracts.
From Brad Holmes' first two draft classes as general manager, the Lions have signed Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill, Derrick Barnes, Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, and Kerby Joseph to significant extensions.
The third draft class under Holmes in Detroit, the 2023 class, will be eligible for contract extensions when the 2026 offseason starts. First-round picks Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell have fifth-year option decisions in play by somewhere around (if not exactly on) May 1, but the Lions front office has quickly taken care of Sewell, Hutchinson, and Williams with lucrative contract extensions beyond the extra year that can act as a placeholder for a new deal.
Second-round picks Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch are also eligible for contract extensions come the offseason.
Lions will likely hand Jahmyr Gibbs a massive extension, per Ian Rapoport
Before the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport talked about the next Lions player who's in line for a contract at or near the top of the market for his position.
"They have had Jahmyr Gibbs become one of the best runners in the NFL this year. A top-five running back based on yards gained, a rare running back right now with 950 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards," Rapoport said.
"He is also potentially getting a contract extension next offseason. Here's what's going on -- he's eligible for an extension. He's going to get the fifth-year option. Because he's probably going to make another Pro Bowl, that will be $14 million not this year but next year. The Lions take care of their best players always, so expect this running back market to take a jump with Jahmyr Gibbs potentially getting a deal."
Gibbs didn't have a huge game against the Packers (20 carries for 68 yards), but he did clear 1,000 rushing yards for the season with five games left, and his 5.8 yards per carry average was tied for the league lead, pending the rest of Week 13's action. His 51 receptions this season are the third-most among running backs, behind Christian McCaffrey and De'Von Achane.
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The two-year contract extension the Philadelphia Eagles gave Saquon Barkley made him the highest-paid running back in the NFL currently, with a new money average of $20.6 million per year.
Spotrac's contract and statistical comps for Gibbs are in that air: Barkley, James Cook, Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor. The site also works up market values for players. A three-year, $60.3 million deal ($20.1 million per year) is the current projection for Gibbs.
With the short shelf life of the position, second contracts for running backs can be a slippery slope. The Lions technically will have contractual control with Gibbs for the next two years after they exercise the fifth-year option, at which point he'll be 26 years old entering the 2028 season.
But as Rapoport noted, and we already know, the Lions don't drag contract matters out with players they want to keep around. Gibbs' second contract is in line to reset the top of the running back market, and the salary cap impact can be mitigated by the structure of the deal.
At some point, there will be someone who is worthy of a notable second contract the Lions won't be able to give one to. Unless something changes so dramatically that it's hard to even imagine, that line is not going to be drawn at Gibbs.