The Detroit Lions decided to exercise star running back Jahmyr Gibbs' fifth-year option ahead of the 2026 season, saving them some cap space ahead of several huge extensions due up for Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Jack Campbell, and Brian Branch. His option was worth just over $14 million for the 2027 season, which is below market value for his level of production.
Detroit has to know that Gibbs' new deal is going to be a hefty one, and could rival some top contracts in the league amongst running backs by the time both sides come to an agreement.
We don't know exactly what that number or deal will look like, but we have a sense of the range in which we can see Gibbs' deal landing thanks to one recent deal done between the New York Jets and Breece Hall. Hall, who was a risk to walk in free agency next year, is now locked in with New York on a new deal that makes him the third-highest paid running back in 2026.
Lions fans have a good idea of Gibbs' upcoming payday with Hall extension
Hall has been a revelation for the Jets, posting over 1,000 rushing yards in 2025 and remaining relatively healthy after tearing his ACL and meniscus his rookie season. He'd already had four touchdowns through six games that season.
Gibbs is probably staring down a similar pay day, if not a better one, whenever he and Detroit work out an extension. Despite getting his fifth-year option picked up, that doesn't mean the team will have paused negotiations with the star - they picked up Aidan Hutchinson's and Jameson Williams' fifth-year options ahead of the 2025 season, and both were extended shortly after.
This is obviously a different situation, though. The Lions don't just have Gibbs to take care of - they have to also sign Jack Campbell, Brian Branch, and Sam LaPorta to extensions, or decide to let them test free agency when the time comes in 2027. That's a huge risk to a good chunk of Detroit's starting talent.
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If Gibbs were to get a payday similar to Hall's, it'd kick in during the 2028 season, which helps the Lions out immensely. Their largest commitments are to Jared Goff ($69.6 million cap hit), Penei Sewell ($34 million) and Alim McNeill ($29.2 million), the latter of which could be a trade piece if he doesn't improve or remain healthy in 2026.
It's worth noting that even The Jet Press's own Charlie Baudini is under the impression that New York rushed to get this deal done because of how up in the air impending extensions for Gibbs and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson are:
"It's obvious the Jets were trying to get Hall to sign on the dotted line before the running back market explodes. Why would it jump so much? Arguably, the two best backs in football are set to sign new deals this offseason, with both Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs eligible for extensions."
With a $15 million AAV, Gibbs could comfortably fit into the Lions' plans to also extend Campbell, who's fifth-year option was not picked up.
Gibbs and Robinson are without new deals, so we sit and wait for a number connected to Gibbs that's so big that it breaks our brains. That's, at least, the hope for the Lions, as they need to invest in their healthier talent now rather than risk letting them walk in the near future.
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