The Detroit Lions got it done. The team has signed Jahmyr Gibbs to a massive contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player at the position, and this was expected. After the recent deals for Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor, it was logical for Gibbs to be the next one.
Through three seasons with the Lions, Gibbs has racked up three Pro Bowls, 49 scrimmage touchdowns, and 5,029 scrimmage yards. Gibbs led the NFL in touchdowns in 2024 and has scored at least 11 in all three seasons of his career.
He's also set to enter his age-24 season, so he's still rather young. It is early, but the foundation for a future Hall of Fame career has been set. But, beyond this deal, what should the Lions look to do next?
The Detroit Lions have to upgrade along the defensive front before it's too late
The Lions do have a roster oozing with talent, and it's hard to find a major flaw in what General Manager Brad Holmes has done, but the Lions simply do not have a threatening pass rush at this point in time. While some may have concerns about the secondary, especially at safety, games in the NFL continue to be won (and lost) in the trenches.
While having a competent secondary is a must, it is a bit more important to be more stout up front. Just think about the three most important team pillars in building a Super Bowl squad:
-Having the quarterback
-Protecting the quarterback
-Being able to get to the other quarterback
The Lions appear to have the first two things checked off. Quarterback Jared Goff rocks, and the offensive line, while looking different than in prior seasons, should ultimately settle in and turn out to be a solid unit. It's been that way for years now, so I don't see any reason why 2026 would be different.
Detroit needs to focus more on getting to the quarterback. Without Al-Quadin Muhammad in the picture, the pass-rush is Aidan Hutchinson and hold your breath. Muhammad had 11 sacks and 20 quarterback hits for Detroit in 2025, so his production was sizeable and can't simply be looked at as something the team 'hopes' to replace.
Tyler Lacy appears to be making some noise in camp thus far, but he has virtually zero NFL production. Derrick Moore is also someone who could step into some sort of role along the defensive line, but he's a rookie, so the expectations should be limited at this point.
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The most obvious answer here could be Von Miller. He's still a free agent and did have nine sacks and 15 quarterback hits for the Washington Commanders in 2025. He played in all 17 games and only played 37 percent of the defensive snaps, so his production in such a limited role could indicate he's got gas left in the tank.
And with Jadeveon Clowney off the board, the options are dwindling. Furthermore, the defense is simply a unit that has to improve in 2025. Detroit's offense is exceptional and would be good enough to win it all this year, but a bottom-tier defense could again throw the entire season off the tracks.
You're also not really asking the Lions defense to be a top-5 unit, but flirting with a more average performance is something that could yield better results. Whether the potential answer is Miller, Leonard Floyd, or someone else on the open market, the Lions can't sit around any longer.
Holmes has to swallow his pride here and go out and make a signing. Even if the options aren't spectacular at this point, a floor-raising addition would be much better than the alternative of doing nothing.
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