Detroit Lions Extend Theo Riddick, Sam Martin Ahead of 2016 Season
By Zac Snyder
Running back Theo Riddick and punter Sam Martin have agreed to contract extensions with the Detroit Lions just days before the start of the 2016 regular season.
With the start of the 2016 season breathing down their necks, the Detroit Lions took care of some business with two players today.
Darius Slay had been the only one of a handful of contract extension candidates to get a new deal until punter Sam Martin and running back Theo Riddick.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport broke both signings on twitter.
#Lions & P Sam Martin have agreed in principle on a 4-year extension that makes him the third-highest paid punter, source said. A priority
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2016
Martin's new base deal makes him the #3 paid punter in NFL at $3.4M/ yr with additional incentives.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 9, 2016
A deal that averages $3.5 million feels like a lot of a punter but it is in line with where the market has been set without breaking any kind of records. Martin has settled in as a consistent top-ten performer in terms of net punting yardage and does a nice job handling kickoff duties.
Detractors are sure to bring up a couple of big mistakes, but there are plenty of NFL teams who would rather have Martin over their current situation. He took a big step forward in becoming more consistent last year and absolutely earned the extension he got today.
Moments later, news broke that running back Theo Riddick had also agreed to a contract extension.
The #Lions and RB Theo Riddick have agreed on a 3-year extension worth $12.75M, source said. DET doing WORK today.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2016
Getting deals done with a year left on both contracts means any signing bonus, which hits the salary cap on a prorated basis, is spread over an additional year. The net effect is a departure from the “kick the can down the road” strategy that the previous front office regime routinely used.
That means a slightly higher cap hit than was otherwise going to hit this season, but for late-round picks on rookie deals, they will still be bargains considering their role. Taking up part of the overall cap hit before the extension even kicks in means lower cap hits when it does.
Next: Lions 2016 Game-by-Game Predictions
That leaves Larry Warford and Devin Taylor as other members of the Lions’ 2013 draft class that will play big roles for the team this season but have less certain futures. Ziggy Ansah, the team’s first round pick, remains under team control via a fifth-year option.