The Detroit Lions Have 3 Contract Paths for Jahmyr Gibbs — One Breaks the NFL
The Detroit Lions have 3 very real contract paths for Jahmyr Gibbs… and one of them would completely change the running back market Not everyone is going to like it either
A couple of weeks ago, we were discussing what a Jack Campbell contract extension could look like, and we laid out options A, B, and C for the Detroit Lions. They chose option A when it was all said and done.
The option that allowed them to make Campbell one of the highest paid at his position, but not the top dog. The next big extension to think about is with running back Jahmyr Gibbs. We’ve been asked to do a similar thought exercise for him.
Option A: Make Gibbs one of the highest-paid running backs
This is very hard to do because right now, Gibbs is fully expected to reset the market. It would be wild if he didn’t, but let’s see a world in which he doesn’t. He’d get something like a four-year extension worth $76 million. That’s the most in terms of total value, but he’s coming in at just $19 million per year. That’s behind Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
Below is how the deal lays out for the Lions. A low hit in 2026, but then a pretty big one in 2027 with his fifth-year option taking effect. Then it’s full go.
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus Proration | Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1.5M | $8M | $9.5M |
| 2027 | $2.5M | $8M + $4M (option) | $14.5M |
| 2028 | $10M | $8M + $4M | $22M |
| 2029 | $12M | $8M + $4M | $24M |
| 2030 | $14M | $8M + $4M | $26M |
| 2031 (void) | — | $6M dead | $6M |
| 2032 (void) | — | $6M dead | $6M |
Option B: Make Gibbs the highest-paid running back by AAV
In this scenario, Gibbs gets a four-year extension worth $84 million with $52 million guaranteed. He’d get $21 million per year, which would make him the highest-paid per year. The problem here is that he’s not making the most guaranteed money in the league for running backs. A guy who is, he’s a rookie. That’s the Cardinals’ first-round draft pick, Jeremiyah Love. You can see why this just won’t happen.
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus Proration | Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,200,000 | $6,000,000 | $7,200,000 |
| 2027 | $2,800,000 | $9,600,000 | $12,400,000 |
| 2028 | $11,500,000 | $9,600,000 | $21,100,000 |
| 2029 | $14,500,000 | $9,600,000 | $24,100,000 |
| 2030 | $18,000,000 | $9,600,000 | $27,600,000 |
| 2031 (void) | — | $4,800,000 | $4,800,000 (dead) |
| 2032 (void) | — | $4,800,000 | $4,800,000 (dead) |
Option C: Make Gibbs the flat-out highest-paid running back in NFL history
This is it right here. This is very likely what Gibbs is going to get when it’s all said and done. This is a four-year deal worth $92 million with an annual value of $23 million per year and $65 million guaranteed.
It’s a lot, and I know some fans live by the “don’t pay running backs” code, but Gibbs is not your average running back who is easily replaceable. He’s the kind of guy you absolutely pay.
Here’s what the deal looks like at the end of the day. Ideally, you’re restructuring in 2028 or 2029 and trying to extend this thing a little bit more. That’ll help you with the cap hits. They’re high, but they’ll probably never be the highest on the team or anything like that.
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus Proration | Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,500,000 | $6,800,000 | $8,300,000 |
| 2027 | $3,500,000 | $11,200,000 | $14,700,000 |
| 2028 | $13,000,000 | $11,200,000 | $24,200,000 |
| 2029 | $17,000,000 | $11,200,000 | $28,200,000 |
| 2030 | $21,000,000 | $11,200,000 | $32,200,000 |
| 2031 (void) | — | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 (dead) |
| 2032 (void) | — | $5,600,000 | $5,600,000 (dead) |
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