Jahmyr Gibbs just officially inked a historic contract with the Detroit Lions, making him the highest-paid running back in the entire NFL. This monster deal, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, locks him in for three years, worth an incredible $67.5 million, with a potential max value climbing to $75.75 million. The most shocking part? A staggering $51.1 million of that is guaranteed money. Talk about a statement from the Lions!
The RB Market Is Absolutely Exploding Right Now
This isn’t just a big payday for Gibbs, it’s a seismic shift for running backs across the league. Before Gibbs signed on the dotted line, the Lions were sitting on $14.6 million in cap space, per Over the Cap. This deal changes everything for their financial picture and for the entire running back landscape. Gibbs’ new contract immediately dwarfs recent extensions for other star backs. Just days ago, Bijan Robinson from the Atlanta Falcons signed a three-year deal for $66.75 million, with $51.06 million guaranteed, which at the time made him the highest-paid in terms of average annual value. Then there’s Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts’ powerhouse, who secured a two-year, $44 million extension, potentially reaching $47 million, with $39 million guaranteed. Gibbs’ deal blows both those out of the water, especially on guaranteed money. This whole situation ended Gibbs’ training camp hold-in, as both sides hammered out the details. What a way to come back to practice, right?
Jahmyr Gibbs: From Draft Pick to Bellcow Superstar
It’s no surprise the Lions were willing to shell out this kind of cash. Gibbs, the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Alabama, has been nothing short of a superstar in Honolulu blue since day one. Over his three years, he’s piled up an insane 5,029 total yards and found the end zone 49 times. Seriously, 49 touchdowns! He’s averaged a stellar 5.3 yards per carry over his NFL career. Last season alone, the dude went off, rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns on 243 carries, averaging 5.0 YPC. And he’s not just a runner; he added 77 receptions for 616 yards and five more scores. The year before that, his 2024 campaign saw him rack up 1,929 total yards and 20 touchdowns. This guy is a legit offensive weapon. For his first three seasons, he shared the backfield with veteran David Montgomery, but with Montgomery traded to the Houston Texans in March, Lions head coach Dan Campbell made it clear. “I mean he is, he’s going to be our bell cow now,” Campbell told reporters in June. “He really became more of that last year, but we’re going to hang our hat on him quite a bit. We’re going to do a lot of things we feel like he does well.” No kidding, coach. This 24-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler and absolutely vital to that Lions offense.
So, the Lions picking up his fifth-year option for 2027 at $14.29 million felt like a no-brainer, but clearly, they wanted to lock him down long-term before anyone else got any ideas. With Gibbs now fully committed and ready to roll as the undisputed bellcow, you just know he’s going to be asked to carry a massive load. All eyes are on him to deliver on this historic investment.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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