Amon-Ra St. Brown becomes NFL’s highest-paid player with $120 million, four-year extension

Amon-Ra St. Brown surpassed the Rams’ Cooper Kupp and the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill as the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver after agreeing to a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions.

St. Brown, 24, who was the third-best player in the 2023 NFL season, would have become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season had he not signed the extension on Wednesday. The extension includes $77 million guaranteed, as St. Brown will now have to wait until 2029 to become a free agent.

His new contract puts him on par with Hill and Kupp – two Super Bowl champions and top receivers – in terms of salary. According to Ian Rapoport, NFL NetworkSt. Brown’s $30 million annual salary ties him with Hill as the highest receiver.

The guaranteed money supplants the $75 million offered to Kupp by the Rams.

“At Ford Field, it’s empty but generally there’s something moving. I can not wait. I’m here for four more years. It’s finish. That’s the trick. Detroit…what’s up though,” St. Brown said while celebrating the terms of his new deal in a post shared to his Instagram Story on Wednesday.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is the highest-paid player in the NFL after agreeing to a four-year, $120 million contract on Wednesday.

St. Brown’s $77 million guaranteed deal supplants Cooper Kupp’s $75 million and runs through 2029

St. Brown’s $30 million annual salary ties him with Hill as highest receiver

Detroit drafted St. Brown out of USC in the fourth round in 2021 with the No. 112 overall pick and he was entering the final season of his rookie contract.

He was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler last season, helping the Lions win a division title for the first time in three decades and win two playoff games in the same season for the first time since they won the NFL title in 1957.

St. Brown had career highs with 119 receptions, 1,515 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season. In three seasons, he totaled 315 catches for 3,588 yards and 21 receiving touchdowns.

The Lions also announced new terms with offensive tackle Penei Sewell on Wednesday.

The Lions also announced new terms Wednesday with offensive tackle Penei Sewell on a four-year, $112 million contract, according to reports.

Detroit general manager Brad Holmes selected Sewell with his first selection with the franchise, selecting him 7th overall out of Oregon in 2021.

Sewell was voted to the All-Pro team last season and was durable during his three-year career, starting 50 regular season games and all three postseason games as the Lions reached the NFC championship for the first time since the 1991 season.

Detroit hosts the NFL Draft starting Thursday night and holds the 29th pick in the first round.