The Detroit Lions have worked hard this offseason to keep their core together, but the rising price of elite safeties might make that a tougher task than expected. All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph is now eligible for an extension, and after Houston locked up Jalen Pitre with a three-year, $39 million deal, Joseph’s market value is set to explode.
Joseph led all safeties in PFF grade last season and already has an All-Pro nod under his belt. He was expected to reset the market anyway, but now his agent can point to several big-money deals around the league—including Antoine Winfield Jr.’s $21M per year—as a starting point. That means Detroit could soon be shelling out over $22M annually just to keep their star defender in the fold.
While the Lions are focused on a big 2025 season, they’ll need to balance those goals with long-term planning—and keeping Joseph is going to require a serious financial commitment.
Kerby Joseph’s Next Contract Just Got More Expensive for the Lions
