ALLEN PARK -- Kerby Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions and was a first-team All-Pro selection. For his efforts, the Detroit Lions safety earned the sixth-highest performance-based pay bumps.
The NFL announced performance-based pay bumps ahead of the start of the new league year on Wednesday afternoon. Joseph earned an extra $996,523, not too far off from the top spot of $1.09 million to New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood.
Joseph was one of, if not the main driving force in holding Detroit’s defense together with so many injuries across the board. He started every game, continuing his durable stretch with only two games missed in three seasons, and was the top ball-hawking defensive back in the game.
There could be even more money on the way for Joseph before too long, as well. Joseph is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and a possible extension sounds like it’s coming sooner than later.
“We know where he’s at from an eligibility (standpoint). Look, he’s an All-Pro player,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said in his year-end press conference. “I don’t know how you don’t make the Pro Bowl with nine interceptions, whatever that is, but he’s an All-Pro player. He’s another one that’s gotten better and better.
“He’s one that has proved he’s a Detroit Lion. He fits. He fits our culture. It’s hard to find ballhawk guys that will tackle how he does. I think that’s what makes him unique. Again, we haven’t had any intense dialogue about that yet, but obviously, you want to keep the good players here.”
Joseph has 17 interceptions through his first three seasons in the league. The 2022 third-round pick out of Illinois has added 31 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and 247 tackles in that time. He’s been a steady riser, hitting new All-Pro levels last season, and is likely to get top-of-the-line money for his position.
There have been some big deals for safeties handed out this week, too. Jevon Holland got $45.3 million over three years from the New York Giants, Camryn Bynum scored $60 million and four years from the Indianapolis Colts, and Tre’von Moehrig scored $51 million and three years from the Carolina Panthers.
Pro Football Focus ranked Joseph as the NFL’s top safety last year. He was the fifth-best graded tackler and top coverage safety in the league, per the analytics site.
Spotrac’s calculated market value estimates Joseph at $23.2 million for an average salary, and its placement puts him in line to take over the top-paid safety spot held by Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield. ($84.1 million).
The Lions are also in the planning stages of an extension for Aidan Hutchinson, and the price of premium edge rushers is only going up. Hutchinson has another year on his deal, as well as the fifth-year option, so it’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds for a no-doubt superstar pass rusher of the future coming off a serious injury.
