The Detroit Lions made waves just hours before the NFL Draft, inking safety Kerby Joseph to a four-year, $86 million contract extension. The deal makes the 24-year-old the highest-paid safety in NFL history, with an average annual salary of $21.5 million. That figure tops the previous record held by Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr.
From Third-Round Pick to All-Pro
Drafted in the third round out of Illinois in 2022, Joseph has quickly become a star. Last season, he led the league with nine interceptions and earned first-team All-Pro honors, despite being left off the Pro Bowl roster.
In just three seasons, Joseph has racked up a league-best 17 interceptions. His nose for the football and explosive playmaking have made him the heart of Detroit’s secondary.
Joseph’s Confidence Matches His Game
“I feel like I’m the best in the league,” Joseph said earlier this year on The Jim Rome Show. “And I’m going to keep proving it every year.”
Now, he’s being paid like it. The Lions’ front office clearly sees him as a foundational piece—and Joseph is embracing the spotlight.
Detroit’s Long-Term Vision on Defense
Joseph’s extension is part of a larger plan in Detroit. Last offseason, the team secured key offensive players with long-term deals—quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and offensive tackle Penei Sewell all got paid.
This time, the focus is on defense. The next player on Detroit’s radar? Aidan Hutchinson, the team’s top pass rusher, who was in the running for Defensive Player of the Year before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 6.
Team president Rod Wood recently said of Hutchinson: “He will be here for the long haul.”
Looking Ahead to the NFL Draft
With the 28th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Lions are poised to add more talent—perhaps on the defensive side to support their newly re-signed star.
Even as the draft approaches, the Lions have made it clear: Kerby Joseph is the anchor of their defense, and he’s being rewarded like one.
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