The Lions are expected to commit $100 million to Amon-Ra St. Brow

Since the advent of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell in 2021, the Detroit Lions have painstakingly built up their squad, transforming the franchise from a bottom-dwelling one into a Super Bowl contender.

The Lions are now prepared to face their next roster challenge: paying up.

Several important members of the squad are up for contract extensions, and Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports forecasts that the Lions will spend more than $350 million on three large contracts this summer. One of the more significant commitments is expected to go to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has developed into one of the league’s top wide receivers and is expected to be compensated accordingly.

In 2023, Lions receiver St. Brown led the league with 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 13 touchdowns, resulting in a big payday. He was also one of the team’s finest players during their playoff run to the NFC Championship game, recording 22 receptions for 274 yards and one touchdown in three postseason games.

Payton anticipated that the Lions would sign St. Brown before the end of his rookie contract, giving him a four-year deal for $100 million. He also projected that the Lions would give quarterback Jared Goff a four-year, $190 million contract deal, keeping their two primary parts of the passing attack together for the foreseeable future.

Other moves may occur in the future. Payton projected that the Lions would pick up Penei Sewell’s fifth-year option while negotiating a long-term contract for the crucial offensive tackle.

To keep within the salary cap, the Lions would need to make some equivalent adjustments. Payton anticipated that they will restructure the contracts of lineman Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker, as well as defensive back Cameron Sutton, saving a total of $17.8 million through the changes.

Lions Working Toward a New Deal
The Lions look to be already negotiating a new contract with their star wide receiver. On February 29, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported that the organization intended to sign St. Brown to a contract extension this offseason and planned to speak with his representation at the NFL combine this week.

The timing for a settlement remained unclear, but Birkett expressed optimism that one would be reached.

“While no deal is imminent, the Lions have made it clear they intend to invest in their own roster this offseason,” Birkett said.

Holmes discussed the team’s roster plans, stating that he and Campbell preferred to keep their own players over making major acquisitions in free agency.

“It’s not just, ‘Oh, you drafted them and you know them so even if they’re not performing well and they’re not meeting expectations that you just keep them,'” that’s what he said to me.

“No, it’s that you try your best to acquire the right players through the draft and hopefully the goal is to develop and then once they get to a point where they’re eligible to re-sign, you re-sign them and you feel really, really good about it.”