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.

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the New Orleans Saints face significant uncertainty at quarterback. Derek Carr, the team’s starter for the past two seasons, may be sidelined for the upcoming campaign due to a shoulder injury. With the No. 9 overall pick in hand and an aging quarterback battling health issues, the Saints are viewed as a prime candidate to draft a quarterback in the first round. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s first round, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis addressed the situation but offered limited details. “He does have an issue with his shoulder,” Loomis said Wednesday. “We’re hoping to get some resolution and clarity on that in the near future, and when we do, I’ll report back to you. Otherwise, I don’t have any more to state about Derek.” Rapoport previously reported that Carr is considering surgery which could impact his availability for the 2025 season. Should Carr be sidelined, the Saints’ current fallback options are Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler. Although Loomis stayed vague on the severity of Carr’s injury, he emphasized that it won’t influence the Saints’ draft strategy. “I don’t think the draft approach for us is any different than it would be in any year,” he stated. The Saints hold nine total picks, including four in the first two days (No. 9, 40, 71, and 93). Many analysts link them to quarterback prospects such as Shedeur Sanders(widely considered the draft’s No. 2 quarterback) or Jaxson Dart.  Whether the Saints are willing to use a top-10 pick on either player remains an open question.

Patrick Mahomes has never needed much help finding motivation, but this offseason hits differently. After falling short of a historic Super Bowl three-peat, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is fueled by the sting of defeat. “I’m pretty motivated anyways, but I think when you get some of those tiring sets or tiring reps that you’re in the workout, you have something in the back of your mind that you’re kind of pushing towards,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “You have that bad taste in your mouth from the last time you stepped on the football field and you kind of have to hear about it all offseason, so it gives you the push that you want to go out there and be better and show what we’re really about. “ Mahomes has been here before. After a blowout loss to the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, the Chiefs missed the big game the next season, losing to the Bengals in the AFC title game. But since then, Kansas City has returned to the Super Bowl each year. This offseason, Patrick Mahomes has also sported a fresh haircut – another subtle reset after the loss. With a revamped roster and his usual drive, he’s confident the Chiefs can bounce back strong. The mission for Mahomes is clear: use the pain as fuel and come back better than ever.