The Detroit Lions are continuing their trend of locking down key players, and safety Kerby Joseph is the latest to benefit. On Wednesday, Joseph agreed to a four-year, $86 million contract extension. This deal has made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history, according to NFL Network Insider.
Joseph’s new deal surpasses the previous benchmarks set by Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Both deals are valued in total ($84.1 million) and average annual salary ($21.025 million). Joseph’s contract averages $21.5 million per year.
Before the extension, Joseph was set to earn $3.621 million in base salary this season.
At just 24 years old, Joseph has quickly become one of the league’s top young defensive backs. He led the NFL with nine interceptions last season and earned first-team All-Pro honors, though he was notably left off the NFC Pro Bowl roster.
“I feel like I’m the best (safety in the NFL),” Joseph said earlier this offseason on The Jim Rome Show. “And I’m always going to strive to continue to be the best.”
With this massive deal, Joseph is now not only striving to be the best, he’s being paid like it. He becomes the latest cornerstone player in Detroit’s effort to build a long-term contender.
