Lions Star’s $86 Million Contract Dubbed Most ‘Team-Friendly’ in NFL

Few players have come to define the Detroit Lions defensive identity in recent years quite like safety Kerby Joseph. Since entering the league in 2022, Joseph has evolved from a third-round pick into a cornerstone of Dan Campbell’s defense.

In April of 2025, the Lions inked Joseph to a four-year, $86 million extension that made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL, edging out Antoine Winfield Jr.’s $84.1 million deal and giving Joseph an average annual salary of $21.25 million.

The contract includes a $10 million signing bonus and multiple annual option bonuses from 2026 through 2029, along with strategically placed void years to minimize initial cap hits. Total guarantees sit at around $36.1 million, with $24.4 million guaranteed at his signing.

It’s a structure that allows Detroit to retain financial flexibility while also securing one of their most important young stars long-term — and ESPN’s Dan Graziano just ranked Joseph’s contract as the most “team-friendly” in the league for the safety position.

More on Why Kerby Joseph’s Contract Is Considered the Most Team-Friendly Deal for Any NFL Safety Right Now

“If Joseph sticks around, he stands to make $18.5 million in 2027, $21 million in 2028 and $26 million in 2029. But those years are a long way off, and the only guarantees they include are that $1.26 million in 2027,” Graziano wrote on June 27, adding:

“If the Lions want to, they can get out of this deal after the 2026 season having paid Joseph a total of $24.381 million. And Joseph’s deal should be quite helpful for the Lions, whose list of extension-eligible players over the next calendar year and a half includes Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Jack Campbell and Brian Branch.”

Joseph was selected 97th overall by the Lions in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Illinois. He began his rookie campaign contributing primarily on special teams, but quickly ascended into the starting lineup.

He made the most of the opportunity, recording 82 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery across 17 games. That year, Joseph became only the third NFL player since 1999 to post at least four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery as a rookie—a sign of the playmaker he was becoming.

In 2023, Joseph solidified his starting role and continued to thrive, notching another four interceptions, 82 tackles and 11 passes defended. But it was in 2024 that Joseph fully blossomed into an All-Pro safety.

He led the NFL with nine interceptions—including one returned for a score—while adding 83 tackles and 12 pass breakups. PFF gave him a 91.0 overall grade, which was tops among all qualifying safeties. He also made franchise history, becoming the first Lions safety with at least nine picks in a season and the first NFL player since 1949 to tally interceptions in seven of the first ten games.

Joseph Just Now Entering His Prime

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It’s fair to say Detroit has a real gem in Joseph.

His range, keen football instincts and ability to play both deep and in the box make him the type of defensive back who can erase mistakes across the field. At just 24 years old, he’s become a vocal leader and tone-setter in the locker room, and an emotional anchor of the Lions’ defense.

Detroit secured a huge victory in the way his contract is structured, to be sure, but it also scored big-time when it comes to snagging his talents back in 2022. If he stays healthy, Joseph promises to remain one of the league’s best safeties — and it’ll be up to the Lions how long he sticks around.