Jack Campbell received a monster extension ahead of this season, securing the Detroit Lions linebacker through the 2030 season and retaining the captain of their defense. It was a necessary pay day, especially after the team let Alex Anzalone walk in free agency.
After trading David Montgomery and signing Isiah Pacheco as a backup running back, you'd assume the same logic would follow quite quickly as it pertains to Jahmyr Gibbs' impending extension. And yet, we've heard very little about any progression on that front between the star running back and the Lions. But, Gibbs hasn't sounded very concerned about the extension.
So, should we worry? With just two weeks out from training camp, we've seen how quickly these seemingly amicable negotiations can turn sour. Getting a deal done sooner rather than later, especially for a player that the team has deemed their next bell cow on offense, seems like the best thing for both sides to avoid a distraction at camp.
Gibbs' impending extension could pose a distraction at camp
It feels like it might've been a bit of a mistake for the Lions to openly admit that Gibbs would be their biggest piece on offense, especially with such a massive extension at play for him. Hearing that, you can't help but wonder why you haven't gotten a deal done with that player.
Another wrench thrown into this issue is the fact that Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch are all up for extensions. The curse of drafting unbelievably well back in 2023 is that general manager Brad Holmes must now make the ridiculously tough decision of whether or not to pay all of these players, or just a fraction of them.
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You then risk blowing up your momentum, mostly on offense, by being "cheap." It's unfair to lob that at Holmes, especially since LaPorta and Branch now come with injury asterisks worth considering ahead of any extension talks, but it's the reality of the situation for him and Detroit.
And then, as if all of that wasn't enough, the Lions also have to worry about beating out the Atlanta Falcons for their new deal with Bijan Robinson. Robinson and Gibbs, both drafted in 2023, have been electric backs who don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Both are due for extensions, and likely similar pay days. But, whoever gets paid first will set the pace. That could be good news, or bad news, for the Lions.
With camp starting in just 10 days for rookies, and 13 for veterans, it would be in the teams' best interest to get something done with Gibbs before they're blown out of the water by the Falcons, or blown away by Gibbs deciding to sit out until he gets his well-deserved extension.
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