The Detroit Lions locked up one of their franchise cornerstones for the long term on Wednesday.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Lions signed safety Kerby Joseph to a four-year deal worth $86 million, which averages to $21.5 million and makes him the highest-paid safety in league history. Joseph is now tied to Detroit until 2029.
"The Lions and All-Pro S Kerby Joseph reached agreement on a massive new extension to make him the highest paid safety in NFL history, sources say," Rapoport wrote on X.
"He gets a 4-year, $86M deal — $21.5M per year — in contract done by @AgentLouisBing. A big-time star in Detroit cashes in," Rapoport added.
The #Lions and All-Pro S Kerby Joseph reached agreement on a massive new extension to make him the highest paid safety in NFL history, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 23, 2025
He gets a 4-year, $86M deal — $21.5M per year — in contract done by @AgentLouisBing. A big-time star in Detroit cashes in. pic.twitter.com/NWu9nmKolm
Paying Joseph this type of money is a massive investment, but one that is definitely worth it. The 24-year-old is coming off an All-Pro season in 2024, where he snagged a league-leading nine interceptions and formed one of the most potent duos in football with fellow safety Brian Branch.
Despite being on the roster for just a few seasons, Joseph has taken on a leadership role on Detroit's defense and is set to be a pivotal piece on Dan Campbell's squad for the foreseeable future.
The Lions have a ton of work to do over the next few days, as the draft is a fantastic opportunity to add potential game-changing talent. However, getting an extension done with Joseph was a top priority, and general manager Brad Holmes got it done.
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