Report: Lions, S Kerby Joseph agree to four-year, $86M extension
There appears to be a new highest-paid safety in the NFL. Kerby Joseph and the Detroit Lions reportedly agreed to a record four-year, $86 million extension, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Wednesday. The lucrative deal makes the former All-Pro player the league’s highest-paid safety, taking that title from Antoine Winfield Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Joseph earned the pay day after a breakout 2024 campaign that saw him make his first All-Pro team and finish sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 24-year-old racked up league-leading nine interceptions — more than his first two seasons combined — to go with 12 passes defended, both of which were career highs. Joseph also logged a career-best 99 interception return yards and his first INT-TD. Pro Football Focus had Joseph as the second-highest graded safety in the NFL last season — opposing quarterbacks completed just 43.9 per cent of their passes thrown his way. The Illinois product was taken by the Lions in the third round (97th overall) of the 2022 draft. He’s started for Detroit in all but two games since, posting 17 interceptions, 31 passes defended and two forced fumbles. He’s led the Lions in INTs in every year since he’s been on the roster. And now that Joseph is seemingly locked in for the long-term future, Detroit will likely turn its attention to another 2022 draftee. Second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson is up for a new deal, and according to Rapoport, the star edge rusher might be in for his payday soon.
There appears to be a new highest-paid safety in the NFL.
Kerby Joseph and the Detroit Lions reportedly agreed to a record four-year, $86 million extension, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Wednesday.
The lucrative deal makes the former All-Pro player the league’s highest-paid safety, taking that title from Antoine Winfield Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Joseph earned the pay day after a breakout 2024 campaign that saw him make his first All-Pro team and finish sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 24-year-old racked up league-leading nine interceptions — more than his first two seasons combined — to go with 12 passes defended, both of which were career highs. Joseph also logged a career-best 99 interception return yards and his first INT-TD.
Pro Football Focus had Joseph as the second-highest graded safety in the NFL last season — opposing quarterbacks completed just 43.9 per cent of their passes thrown his way.
The Illinois product was taken by the Lions in the third round (97th overall) of the 2022 draft. He’s started for Detroit in all but two games since, posting 17 interceptions, 31 passes defended and two forced fumbles. He’s led the Lions in INTs in every year since he’s been on the roster.
And now that Joseph is seemingly locked in for the long-term future, Detroit will likely turn its attention to another 2022 draftee. Second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson is up for a new deal, and according to Rapoport, the star edge rusher might be in for his payday soon.
