The Detroit Lions are fully committed to retaining their own, with lucrative contract extensions for players they've drafted and have become core players. It's been worth wondering where the "you can't pay everyone" line will be, though, if it's ever drawn.
The Lions are willing to do contract negotiations during the season, so the fact tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch don't have extensions done right now is not a big deal. But Sunday morning brought some dismal-sounding news, with NFL Networks Ian Rapoport reporting the team and LaPorta have stopped contract talks.
Rapoport is clearly doing his typical PR for an agent, and not having a deal done on Oct. 4 hardly means the Lions' won't get a deal done with LaPorta. It's unchartered territory for them in these contract situations, but the Lions can also use the franchise tag if they wish to. That would lock LaPorta in for 2027, and serve as a placeholder to keep discussions about a long-term deal going.
But, are the Lions starting to draw a line regarding who they will make one of the highest-paid players at their position?
Will the Lions now pivot to prioritizing an extension for Brian Branch?
In either direction, should it come down to choosing one or the other, a case can be made for the Lions prioritizing a contract extension for LaPorta or Branch. Both have proven to be indepensable to their side of the ball, with ample evidence to prove it.
Choosing between LaPorta and Branch, again assuming that choice has to be or will be made, may come down to the overall picture on each side of the ball.
It's fair to say the Lions' defense needs all the talent it can get, especially in the secondary with the future status of safety Kerby Joseph up in the air.
While LaPorta clearly occupies a critical role in the offense, since he's the one Lions tight end who has to be accounted for as a pass catcher, could the proverbial contract clock be reset with a comparable player?
LaPorta's back injury last season was also fairly significant, which can't be ignored as a factor in contract talks.
The cost perspective is also, of course, a critical layer. Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft signed a four-year, $75 million contract extension in September. That $18.75 million average made him the third-highest paid tight end in the league, and LaPorta could be trying to get at least that in his new deal.
Tight ends Kyle Pitts and Michael Mayer have also gotten new deals worth $18 and $15 million per year respectively recently, and LaPorta absolutely deserves more than Pitts got.
Spotrac has LaPorta's projected market value at $17.8 million per year, compared to a $20 million per year projected market value for Branch. Doing deals at or a little above those projections for both guys could prove to be too rich for the Lions.
Read More: Brian Branch is annoying Dan Campbell, but Lions fans should be excited about it
There's a lot to be determined when it comes to potential contract extensions for LaPorta and/or Branch, including how Branch looks in his approaching return from an Achilles' tear. But it wouldn't be surprising if the current stall in talks with LaPorta brings a notable pivot toward getting something done with Branch.
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