Lions make Kerby Joseph the highest-paid safety in NFL history, could be a preview of how hard things are about to get for Brad Holmes and company
The Detroit Lions have signed former third-round pick and All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph to a massive four-year extension. The extension worth $86 million makes Joseph the highest-paid safety in the NFL for now. Ravens' Kyle Hamilton, who is also nearing the time for an extension, is projected to top him. This would be another really […]
The Detroit Lions have signed former third-round pick and All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph to a massive four-year extension.
The extension worth $86 million makes Joseph the highest-paid safety in the NFL for now. Ravens' Kyle Hamilton, who is also nearing the time for an extension, is projected to top him. This would be another really smart move by the Lions to get ahead of the market and make Joseph a really good deal while not having to top Hamilton.
Joseph is coming off a monster year in which he led the league in interceptions with nine and was one of the seventh highest graded defensive players in the NFL and the highest graded safety per Pro Football Focus. On top of that, he received Defensive Player of the Year votes and was named first-team All-Pro.
Just watching Joseph in 2024, you could see that this was not a flash-in-the-pan type season. His anticipation on the field was second to none, and he constantly found himself in the right spot to make plays. That's not to say that he'll have nine picks again in 2025, but he is someone that you can expect to be in the All-Pro conversation on a yearly basis and consistently be one of the best safeties in the NFL.
The Lions are not done at safety just yet. Brian Branch is up for an extension next year, and like Joseph, he's been one of the best safeties in the entire league. He could very easily have a killer 2025 season and then be looking to get a giant contract himself. Maybe even more than what Joseph just got.
If that's the case, that's going to only make life harder for the Lios who want to keep both Branch and Joseph, as well as Jahymr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, Aidan Hutchinson, and Jack Campbell. The bill is coming due, and these guys aren't going to be cheap.
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