Last season, the Detroit Lions, who recently revealed new uniforms missed the coveted Super Bowl championship title by a small margin. Therefore, for the 2024 season, the team is working hard on their roster.
Recently, the Lions have finally decided on their most important player, Amon-Ra St. Brown. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Lions signed the WR to a four-year extension worth $120 million, with $77 million guaranteed money.
Sources: The #Lions have a deal for one of the top young talents, agreeing on an extension for WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. He gets 4 years and more than $120M with $77M guaranteed.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2024
The deal done by @JobyBranion of @VanguardSG makes St. Brown the highest-paid WR in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/EIoBNU6jJw
The $30 million annual average salary of St. Brown ties with Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins and the guaranteed $77 million puts him ahead of the $75 million for Cooper Kupp of the Rams. The WR is deserving of this lucrative deal considering his contributions to the team.
The Detroit Lions, who are also looking for another cornerback, selected St. Brown in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. During his first three seasons with the team, he surpassed everyone’s expectations, recording 315 receptions for 3,588 yards and 21 touchdowns.
After the 2024 season, the wide receiver was expected to become an unrestricted free agent. However, the Detroit Lions decided to retain him for a long time by offering this extension which is considered a smart move by the Lions.
Detroit Lions made the smart move by extending St. Brown’s contract
The timing of signing St. Brown was perfect for the Detroit Lions considering the current wide receiver market in the NFL. The wide receiver market has experienced significant growth in recent years due to the expansion of the salary cap.
No. 1 wide receivers are now seeking contracts upwards of $30 million per year, and this trend is expected to continue. The Detroit Lions made a strategic move by securing St. Brown’s extension before other top wide receivers, such as the talented WR CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk, received new deals.
One interesting note about the #Lions deal with Amon-Ra St. Brown. They’re getting this done before the #49ers extend Brandon Aiyuk and the #Cowboys extend CeeDee Lamb. They’re making it harder for their playoff competition to keep their WRs before tomorrow’s draft. 🤔
— Jordan Sigler (@JordanSig) April 24, 2024
This timing prevents potential inflation of St. Brown’s contract value and ensures the Lions lock him in at a favorable rate.
By securing this extension, the Detroit Lions have potentially put pressure on competitors like the San Francisco 49ers, who may now face increased urgency to address their own wide receiver situation. However, the Detroit Lions are now on the safe side with a talented WR in their roster.
