The Detroit Lions made it a priority to retain as many of their key contributors as possible in the offseason. After being decimated by injuries last season and falling short of their ultimate goal, the Lions are hoping to get over the hump in 2025 thanks to roster continuity and better injury luck.
While they are understandably focused on their short-term goals, the Lions also have to think about their future. This involves locking down their best players on team-friendly long-term deals.
Unfortunately, the latest contract extension around the league will complicate matters for the Lions on the negotiating table with star safety Kerby Joseph.
Sources: The #Texans agreed to terms on a 3-year contract extension with standout S Jalen Pitre, as he gets a roughly $39M deal. Houston locks in another key member of its secondary.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 11, 2025
First Derek Stingley Jr, now Pitre. Houston continues to pay its young core. pic.twitter.com/OFQQSJz7u2
Jalen Pitre Extension Will Complicate Matters for the Lions With Kerby Joseph
On Friday, the Houston Texans signed fellow standout safety Jalen Pitre to a three-year, $39 million contract extension before his fourth season. The Lions face the same situation with Joseph, who is extension-eligible right now. With how player-friendly the new contracts for safeties have been this offseason, the Lions must be ready to break the bank for their All-Pro defensive back.
Joseph made the All-Pro first team last season and received the highest Pro Football Focus grade (90.4) among all safeties. He was always going to set the market for safeties with his extension. The highest-paid safety in the league right now is Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield, Jr., with $21 million per year. While Joseph is all but guaranteed to get over that amount, how much higher will be crucial for Detroit's future plans.
In addition to Pitre's $13 million per year deal, Tre'Von Moehrig, Jevon Holland, and Cam Bynum all received deals over $15 million AAV. Joseph's agent would be more than justified in pointing to those deals and saying he easily deserves significantly over $20 million per season. The fact that safety salaries have gone higher over the last few years doesn't bode well for the type of deal the Lions can sign Joseph to.