The Detroit Lions seem poised to extend wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s contract this offseason, as indicated by reports. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine anticipates this extension to happen imminently.
Ballentine forecasts that the Lions will likely secure St. Brown with a lucrative 4-year, $115 million contract extension prior to the NFL draft. When Ballentine made his prediction, the draft was approximately two and a half weeks away, scheduled for April 25.
St. Brown has proven himself as a dependable and high-performing player in one of the league’s most productive offenses over the past couple of years. Last season, he achieved personal bests with 119 receptions, 1,515 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Both St. Brown and the Lions have strong incentives to finalize the deal promptly. St. Brown, having been selected on Day 3 of the draft, has financial ground to make up, while the Lions recognize the challenge of replacing his significant role if he were to leave.
Having consistently surpassed 100 catches and 1,100 receiving yards in the past two seasons, St. Brown earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 and 2023. His remarkable performance in 2023, with 119 receptions, 1,515 yards, and 10 touchdowns, earned him first-team All-Pro recognition.
Undoubtedly, St. Brown’s stellar performance warrants a substantial salary increase. In his initial three seasons, he only received $3.2 million, a figure expected to be eclipsed by his signing bonus alone in his forthcoming contract.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Contract Extension Coming Soon?
It seems inevitable that Amon-Ra St. Brown will secure a new contract with the Detroit Lions, especially considering the proximity to the NFL draft. With Ballentine’s forecast, it suggests that the deal could materialize within the next two weeks.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, as of March 3, discussions were underway between the Lions and St. Brown regarding an extension, with a potential range of $26-28 million per season.
If St. Brown were to receive the contract projected by Ballentine, his annual earnings would reach $28.75 million. This figure would position him with the second-highest average annual salary among all NFL wide receivers, trailing only Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill, who earns $30 million per year.
When Will QB Jared Goff Get His Contract Extension?
One potential obstacle to Amon-Ra St. Brown’s extension might not involve him directly. Alongside the negotiations for the All-Pro receiver, the Detroit Lions have expressed interest in extending quarterback Jared Goff’s contract this offseason.
It would be logical for Detroit to secure Goff’s contract before finalizing St. Brown’s extension.
Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press mentioned on March 8 that a Goff extension could be imminent, but as of now, it hasn’t materialized.
Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports pointed out on March 24 that the Lions have a tendency to delay major extensions, citing the example of Frank Ragnow’s deal, which wasn’t finalized until May 6th despite discussions beginning earlier.
This indicates a pattern of the Lions taking their time with significant contract negotiations.
While the Lions have the option to negotiate St. Brown’s extension before the draft and then address Goff’s deal later, there’s a possibility that St. Brown’s contract might not be finalized until after April if they prioritize extending Goff first.
