The Detroit Lions will have a busy offseason as they have $53 million in cap space.
Detroit could use its cap space to give players an extension. To qualify for an extension, a player must have completed at least three regular seasons in the NFL.
As their star offensive player has just finished his third regular season, he is now eligible for an extension, and they have opened extension talks.
The Detroit Lions have opened extension talks with their elite wide receiver.
According to Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press, Detroit and Amon-Ra St. Brown’s agent are scheduled to meet at the NFL Combine this week to discuss an extension.
Although Detroit is not expected to reach a deal with him this week, they want to sign him to a long-term extension.
Once they reach a deal, St. Brown is expected to be one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league.
St. Brown has had a great start to his NFL career.
The Detroit Lions drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown in the 4th round, 112th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. For context, he was the 17th wide receiver drafted.
St. Brown appeared in 17 games in his rookie season, recording 90 receptions on 119 targets for 912 yards and five touchdowns with a 79.4 PFF Grade. He averaged 5.3 receptions per game, 7.7 yards per target, 10.1 yards per reception, and 53.6 yards per game.
St. Brown appeared in 16 games in his second season, earning his first Pro Bowl with 106 receptions on 146 targets for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns with a 90.7 PFF Grade.
He averaged 6.6 receptions a game, 8.0 yards per target, 11.0 yards per reception, and 72.6 yards per game.
St. Brown appeared in 16 games in his third season, earning his second Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors with 119 receptions on 164 targets for 1,515 yards and ten touchdowns with a 90.6 PFF Grade.
He averaged 7.4 receptions per game, 9.2 yards per target, 12.7 yards per reception, and 94.7 yards per game.
How do St. Brown’s numbers compare to those of the 2021 draft class?
For being the 17th wide receiver drafted, St. Brown has been outstanding and is arguably one of the best receivers in that draft class.
He ranks first in receptions, second in receiving yards, and second in receiving touchdowns with a loaded draft class consisting of Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Nico Collins, to name a few.
Detroit’s GM prefers to invest in draft picks than spend a lot in free agency.
Brad Holmes explained the thought process of drafting players.
“It’s not just, ‘Oh, you drafted them and you know them so even if they’re not performing well and they’re not meeting expectations that you just keep them,'” he said. “No, it’s that you try your best to acquire the right players through the draft and hopefully the goal is to develop and then once they get to a point where they’re eligible to re-sign, you re-sign them and you feel really, really good about it.”
Players who could get extended this offseason.
Notable players who could get extended include Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, and Alim McNeill.
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