Lions Score Another Bargain with Tim Patrick’s New Deal
Last year, the Detroit Lions had a tough time locking down their third starting wide receiver in training camp. Antoine Green, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Daurice Fountain all got their shots, but none really stuck. That left Detroit scrambling for answers until Tim Patrick landed in their lap.
The former Broncos receiver wasn’t a high-volume target (only 44 in 16 games), but he played a key role. With his big frame, he gave Jared Goff a reliable option, and he also proved to be a strong, willing blocker in the run game.
Patrick played last season on a veteran minimum deal ($1.125 million) due to his injury history, making him one of the best value pickups in the league. Now, after re-signing with Detroit, he’s getting a well-deserved raise but he’s still a major bargain.
While it was initially reported as a one-year deal worth up to $4 million, Patrick’s contract is actually a one-year, $2.5 million fully guaranteed deal. Here’s how it breaks down:
Base salary: $1.255 million (fully guaranteed)
Signing bonus: $1.245 million
Cap hit: $2.5 million
Since the deal was originally reported as “up to $4 million,” there are likely $1.5 million in incentives tied to things like playing time, production, or team success. The Lions wouldn’t save any money by cutting him, but at that price, he’s not going anywhere.
Looking at Detroit’s wide receiver group, they’re getting great value all around:
Amon-Ra St. Brown: $13.91 million (16th highest WR salary in 2025)
Kalif Raymond: $6.38 million (38th)
Jameson Williams: $5.6 million (40th)
Tim Patrick: $2.5 million (74th)
Even though the Lions are getting deals on individual players, they’re still 10th in the NFL in WR spending ($31.5 million total). That’s not surprising, though when you’ve got two top-20 receivers and an All-Pro returner, it’s money well spent.
Lions Land a Deal: Tim Patrick Joins Detroit on a Budget-Friendly Contract
