In a major commitment to their defensive future, the Detroit Lions have reached an agreement with star safety Kerby Joseph on a four-year, $86 million contract extension. According to multiple reports from Wednesday night, the deal makes Joseph the highest-paid safety in the history of the National Football League, surpassing all previous salary benchmarks at his position.
Joseph’s new contract averages $21.5 million per year, overtaking the previous record held by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who signed a four-year, $84.1 million extension in 2024 that averages $21.025 million annually. Joseph was originally set to earn $3.621 million in base salary in 2025, the final year of his rookie contract. The new extension represents a dramatic raise and a reflection of his importance to Detroit’s defense moving forward.
