Kerby Joseph signs historic $86M Lions extension to become NFL's highest-paid safety
Kerby Joseph is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
The Lions star agreed to a four-year, $86 million contract extension, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.
Joseph was headed into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and would have made a base salary of $3.621 million.
The 24-year-old will now be making an annual salary of $21.5 million.
3 Kerby Joseph of the Detroit Lions runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 5, 2025.
Getty Images
The total value and yearly value both surpass the previous records for the position set by Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. last April when he inked a $84.1 million deal, which came in at $21.025 million per year.
Joseph was a third-round pick out of Illinois in the 2022 NFL Draft and has developed into a massive part of the franchise's renaissance over the past few years, which included a 2024 NFC North title and a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs.
He's recorded 247 tackles, 31 pass breakups and 17 interceptions over his three years in the NFL.
Joseph had the best season of his short career last year when he had an NFL-best nine interceptions, 12 pass breakups and 83 tackles.
3 Kerby Joseph of the Detroit Lions returns an interception for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 3, 2024.
Getty Images
He capped the impressive year off with a First Team All-Pro nod.
The Lions have prioritized rewarding key players with new contracts, which included handing quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell new deals last offseason.
Joseph doesn't lack the confidence of a star player in the NFL, and he said that he 'for sure' is the best safety in the league during an appearance on 'The Jim Rome Show' earlier this offseason.
3 Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) runs back an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, on Nov. 20, 2022.
AP
'I feel like I'm the best,' Joseph said. 'And I'm always going to strive to continue to be the best.'
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