Which Detroit Lions player should be at the front of the line when it comes to getting an extension?
Detroit Lions general manager was blunt last week at the NFL owners meetings: the reason the Lions weren’t active during free agency was that they are already earmarking cap space to use for re-signing some of their best players—many of which are due for a huge raise from their rookie contracts.
“We had so many of these young players that have been on rookie deals and we’ve been enjoying the impact that they’ve all been bringing,” Holmes said. “But now, a bill is coming. What you spend this year is going to impact next year, even impacts 2027. So, that’s the discipline that we have to adhere to.”
It’s obvious the Lions fully intend to hand a big contract to Aidan Hutchinson, whether that comes this year or next. Holmes is probably intending to hand out several more extensions beyond that, but he may have to prioritize a certain few.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Excluding Aidan Hutchinson, who is the Lions’ highest priority to re-sign?
My answer: Well, if we’re just going based on timing, it has to be Kerby Joseph, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal with no fifth-year option to give the Lions an extra year to think it over. Holmes has been pretty clear that they fully intend to give the 2024 interception leader a new contract, but that’s the boring answer. Let’s look at some other possibilities.
There’s the entire 2023 draft class—most notably:
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
- LB Jack Campbell
- TE Sam LaPorta
- S Brian Branch
There are a couple of others from the Hutchinson/Joseph draft in 2022:
- WR Jameson Williams
- EDGE Josh Paschal
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez
And don’t forget some veterans who are coming up on potential new deals:
- WR Kalif Raymond (deal ends after 2025)
- C Frank Ragnow (2026)
- LB Alex Anzalone (2025)
- CB Amik Robertson (2025)
- K Jake Bates (2025)
- P Jack Fox (2026)
Gibbs and Branch stick out as two of the best, young players that are almost certainly getting new deals in Detroit, but the Lions don’t have to make that deal until next offseason—and really they can wait until 2027 for Gibbs if they utilize his fifth-year option.
Don’t sleep on a potential Frank Ragnow extension, though. I know many were concerned about his long-term health with his lingering toe injury, but he seems to have put that behind him. He has also constantly rejected early retirement talk. With all that injury drama, it’s easy to forget that Ragnow is currently just 28 years old and has plenty of football ahead of him if he wants it.
Which of these players do you believe should be priority re-signings for an extension? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!