Jahmyr Gibbs is putting pressure on the Lions to hand him a big second contract
Jahmyr Gibbs' explosive running powered the Detroit Lions to a crucial victory over the New York Giants in Week 12. And the talented running back's exploits are now starting to put some serious pressure on the team's front office.
Detroit has the ability to exercise a fifth-year option on Gibbs' deal, which would keep him with the franchise through the 2027 season. Some fans might falsely believe that fact means dealing with Gibbs is not an immediate concern for the team. But quite the opposite is true.
If the Lions are going to extend their window as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, they need to start constructing their roster around a big raise for Gibbs. His cap hit is just under $5 million this season, but he's going to cost them a lot more than that down the road. Detroit cannot afford to lose his big-play ability if they want to keep pace with their competition in the NFC.
The Lions could always try to keep hold of Gibbs via the franchise tag, but they smarter play would be to get him to agree to a multi-year contract extension as soon as possible. Just ask the Cowboys how costly waiting to tie down star players to second contracts can be. The question decision-makers in Detroit need to answer is just how much they're willing to pay a franchise running back.
It's key to remember that the franchise went against conventional NFL wisdom when they spent the No. 12 overall pick on Gibbs back in the 2023 NFL Draft. That means they are heavily invested in his success. They liked Gibbs coming out of college and have fallen in love with everything he can do for their offense.
How much will the Lions need to pay Jahmyr Gibbs?
Saquon Barkley currently owns the biggest running back salary in the NFL. He's making $20.6 million this season as a part of his multi-year agreement with the Eagles. With all due respect to Gibbs, he's not the potential workhorse back that Barkley can be when he's healthy.
The good news for Gibbs is that Barkley is the only back in the NFL who should definitely make more than him during the rest of his athletic prime. Other highly paid backs like Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara are on the downside of their respective careers. Gibbs has a strong argument to make more than each of those accomplished veterans.
In fact, the rising nature of the NFL salary cap likely means Gibbs has enough leverage to get a deal that pays him more than Barkley if he meets certain incentives. $20 million per season should be the starting point for negotiations for Gibbs and his representatives.
There's a strong chance that he'll be able to push his salary over the $25 million mark if he's willing to lock in with the Lions on a four- or five-year contract. That price tag might raise some eyebrows right now, but it could easily turn into a bargain as the cap rises. No one should blink an eye if Gibbs and his team ask for $30 per season when it's time to enter serious talks with the Lions front office.
In the end, a five-year contract that will pay him around $135 million should be the median point for negotiations. That's a premium salary for a running back, but Gibbs does enough for the Detroit offense to be paid like a superstar. Time will tell if Brad Holmes is willing to pay a running back that kind of money when push comes to shove in contract negotiations.
JJ Redick Sends Strong Message After Deandre Ayton Injury
After the Los Angeles Lakers squeaked out a 108-106 win over the Utah Jazz, coach JJ Redick delivered a strong message regarding Deandre Ayton‘s injury. Ayton was ruled out of the second half due to a right knee contusion.
Speaking to the media in his postgame press conference, Redick was asked about an update on Ayton’s condition. The second-year coach didn’t want to speculate on his big man’s injury, but he wanted everyone to know that it’s next man up for his team.
“I mean, everybody’s got to be ready. I don’t want to speculate on DA, but you know, we feel confident that we have enough options,” Redick said.
Ayton was unable to practice on Saturday because of illness, but he was cleared to play against the Jazz. However, he suffered a right knee contusion after colliding with Ace Bailey in the first quarter. He tried to play through the injury before getting ruled out of the second half.
“He had gotten hit on his leg in the first half and was kind of limping through it. And then couldn’t go in the second half,” Redick said, via ESPN.
The former No. 1 pick finished with just two points, two rebounds and one steal in 13 minutes.
Redick’s Options if Ayton Gets Ruled Out
The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t released an update on Deandre Ayton‘s injury. They are flying back home to Los Angeles, so Ayton is likely to be evaluated on Monday before an official diagnosis is announced. The Lakers are set to start a four-game homestand on November 25 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
If Ayton gets ruled out, coach JJ Redick has solid options off the bench. Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber split the minutes at center in the second half, as per Bleacher Report. Hayes is more of a rim runner and prefers to be in the dunker’s spot, while Kleber stretches the floor with his 3-point shooting.
Ayton is having a solid start to his Lakers career, averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the purple and gold franchise in free agency. He has a player option for next season, so he’s playing for a new contract.
Ayton Underappreciated This Season
After recording three consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound games, Deandre Ayton received a shoutout from NBA analyst MJ Acosta-Ruiz. The host of The Association on NBA TV praised Ayton’s performances for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, describing his contribution to the 12-win team as “underappreciated.”
“He has been going off; he has four 20 and 10 games already through the season, which is what he had all of last year. And he is anchoring this Lakers defense at the moment. I think he’s one of those guys…you can’t discount what he’s been doing thus far this season,” Acosta-Ruiz said, via Basketball Network.
Ayton has looked comfortable alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He’s expected to thrive with LeBron James as well, so he’s going to be a huge factor throughout the season for the Lakers. He might never live up to his potential as a former No. 1 pick, but he could carve out a perfect role in Hollywood.
