Lions send message with extensions for Amon St. Brown and Penei Sewell

The Detroit Lions came into the offseason with multiple key contract extensions on their plate.

It seemed like only a matter of time before the Lions locked up home grown talents Amon Ra-St. Brown and Penei Sewell. Yet nobody knew when or if the deals would actually be struck. Now, the timing of when the events have taken place simply cannot be ignored.

One day before the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, the Lions dropped a bag on both St. Brown and Sewell. First, they made St. Brown the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL with a four-year deal with "more than $120 million ($77 million guaranteed). Then, Sewell was rewarded with a four-year, $112 million dollar deal of his own, becoming the league's highest-paid offensive lineman. In an afternoon, the Lions spent $232 million dollars in surface, reported dollars.

St. Brown and Sewell were part of Brad Holmes' first draft class as Lions' general manager in 2021. They have become building blocks, core players, however you'd like to describe them, and now they've reaped the rewards.

There's no more powerful statement to make to young players, rookies and free agents than rewarding your own. After years of sketchy relationships with their elite players, things have clearly changed in Detroit.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell bedrock ambassadors for new Detroit Lions

It wasn't a surprise to see St. Brown and Sewell get rich extensions. They are now the unquestioned faces of the franchise.

Sewell has quickly become one of the best offensive lineman in the league. As he's done so, he has embraced the Motor City in a major way, After the news of his contract, Sewell went on social media and shared his excitement:

When it comes to St. Brown, his happiness over being able to remain with the Lions was hard to miss as well.

"At Ford Field. It's empty. Usually it's rocking. I can't wait. I'm here. Four more years. It's up. It's turnt. Detroit, what up doe?"

For years, the Lions have been searching for elusive culture bedrocks to build around. Now, the next wave of rookies can see St. Brown and Sewell as leaders and examples of how players are rewarded if they step up and succeed. The two big deals are also a message to the rest of the league, and one owner in particular who keeps saying his team is "all-in", about proactively taking care of players.