With around 24 hours remaining before the draft of the NFL 2025, the Detroit Lions made a major financial commitment to one of their defensive stars. All-Pro Kerby Joseph security has accepted an $ 86 million contract over four years to stay in Detroit.
The agreement, reported for the first time by Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, made Joseph the best -paid security in NFL, with an annual average of $ 21.5 million. His new contract slightly exceeds that signed by the security of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Antoine Winfield Jr., who previously held first place at $ 21 million per year.
This also marks an important decision for the director general Brad Holmes, who has now made major long -term commitments to five of his recovery choices.
Before Joseph’s agreement, Holmes and the Lions signed the offensive platform Penei Sewell, the defensive line player Alim McNeill, the Large Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and the long-term secondary.
Joseph, known to many fans of pure and hard lions by his nickname “Zuper”, has just come out of a year of career. He started the 17 games, led the League with nine interceptions – one of which came back for a touch – and totaled 58 solo plated with 12 defended passes. Alongside Brian Branch, he trains what many consider the best punch of the League in terms of security.
According to Pro Football Focus, Joseph obtained an overall note of 91, the highest among 171 nominal security. He also displayed a better coverage note of 91.9 in the league and a defense note of 83.2, which ranked 13th.
Joseph seemed to refer to an agreement to approach earlier this week. While talking to journalists on Tuesday before launching the first launch at the Detroit Tigers game in Comeri Park, he said about contract negotiations: “It’s in progress, we do things. I love Detroit, Detroit loves me.”
Embody Joseph to an extension at this stage is particularly interesting, since two of the team’s best talents – the Rusher Edge Aidan Hutchinson and the wide receiver Jameson Williams – are now eligible for extensions. Security Brian Branch, another outside competition, will be eligible for the next offseason.
In simple terms, Lions will have to pay major species if they plan to keep most of their local talents. So far, they have shown a desire to do so.
The Lions drafted Joseph with the overall choice n ° 97 in the third round of the NFL 2022 draft.
