The Detroit Lions have done a wonderful job finding difference-makers in the middle rounds of the draft since Brad Holmes became the general manager in 2021. One mid-round pick that has blossomed into a star for the Lions is safety Kerby Joseph, who is coming off an All-Pro season in 2024.
Joseph snagged a league-leading nine interceptions with 12 passes defended last year and started all 17 games for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old is one of the best safeties in football and should be a long-term building block on Dan Campbell’s squad.
Due to his breakout 2024 campaign and importance to the Lions’ defense, Joseph is expected to land a massive second contract. He is set to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason, but it looks like the star defender doesn’t plan on even reaching the market.
FOX 2 Detroit’s Jennifer Hammond spoke to Joseph ahead of the Detroit Tigers game versus the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, and the Lions safety told Hammond that contract talks with Detroit are going well. Joseph added that his love for the city is reciprocated.
“It’s in progress, we’re getting things going,” Joseph told Hammond. “I love Detroit, Detroit loves me.”
Chatted with Lions S Kerby Joseph, who is throwing out the first pitch tonight at Comerica, about a new contract: “It’s in progress, we’re getting things going.”
“I love Detroit, Detroit loves me.”
— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) April 22, 2025
It’s nice to hear that Joseph and the Lions are in a good place when it comes to extension talks. The 2022 third-round pick is an irreplaceable player on Kelvin Sheppard’s defense and has an incredibly bright future in Detroit.
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We’ll see when Joseph and the Lions come to terms on a new deal, but it’s nice knowing that talks are headed in the right direction. Spotrac projects the All-Pro defensive back will become the highest-paid safety in football with a four-year deal worth $92.8 million, which averages to $23.2 million annually.
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