The Detroit Lions front office is the envy of the NFL. Brad Holmes has done a sensational job drafting talent and managing contract extensions. Along with losing key personnel from Dan Campbell’s coaching staff, several members of the Lions’ front office have also been recruited for jobs elsewhere.
The Lions Front Office: The Key to Detroit’s Success
While other teams dealt with disgruntled players this past season and suffered distracting trade demands, the Lions were free to focus on game preparation. There has been a complete absence of diva behavior, contract holdouts, and internal conflict. The lack of drama surrounding Detroit’s contract negotiations wasn’t unique to the 2024 season. During Holmes’ tenure, not one single player has been involved in a public contract dispute. There also weren’t reports of any training camp holdouts or dissatisfied players requesting a trade out of Detroit. Instead, players from other NFL Teams would love to play for the Lions.
Players Want to Play For the Lions
According to one NFL agent, athletes from across the NFL are inquiring whether the Lions would be interested in acquiring their services. The reason for the interest is that word has spread about how the Lions treat players. Since Holmes took over as EVP and GM, the Lions front office has a reputation as an organization that will “go above and beyond to help their players.”
NFL Front Office Mistakes
When contract negotiations are mishandled it leads to training camp holdouts and can ultimately cost the team more money to extend the player’s contract the following year. Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals failed to reach contract extensions with elite wide receivers J’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Both remain unsigned and the prospect of retaining them both isn’t guaranteed.
The Bengals’ failure to agree on a contract with Chase a year ago will wind up costing the team far more to sign him now. With Chase hitting the Triple Crown, the cost of retaining the league’s top receiver just went up significantly.
The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins for the second year in a row. But as a potential free agent, Higgins has already drawn attention from multiple teams. Tagging Higgins could backfire on Cincinnati’s front office by driving up his cost. If the Bengals are unwilling to match the other team’s offer, Cincinnati could lose Higgins.
In addition, a prolonged contract negotiation doesn’t just impact that individual player. It affects the entire team. During a training camp holdout, that individual’s absence necessitates adjustments for practice scenarios. Missing training camp, or even worse, regular season games costs the player valuable preparation time and physical conditioning which could lead to an increased risk of injuries when he does return.
Lions Front Office Handling Contract Negotiations The Right Way
Instead, the Lions contract negotiations were handled quietly and efficiently behind the scenes without a hint of drama. The front office identified the key players that management wanted to extend and they made it happen. Most of the new contracts were signed before the start of the regular season.
The front office goal made it known that exceptional player performances would be rewarded. Committed to recognizing and rewarding players who excel, the Lions management wanted it known that the team valued their contribution. The contract extensions also guaranteed that the player would remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
Extensions Signed, Sealed and Delivered
In February and March of 2024, several high-profile Lions players signed contract extensions. Jaylin Reeves Maybin, Dan Skipper, and Graham Glasgow were among the first teammates to be re-signed. In April, the NFL announced that Pro Bowl wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was signed to a record-setting 120 million dollar four-year agreement. Pro Bowl offensive talent Penei Sewell also received a contract extension the same day.
The following month, Jared Goff signed a four-year contract worth $212 million, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. David Montgomery, Taylor Decker, and Alim McNeil all signed contract extensions within the past year.
Lions Front Office Prioritizing Additional Extensions
The Lions are projected to have roughly $44 million in cap space this year. Just as the Lions front office has been doing for the past few years, they’re prioritizing the extensions of foundational team members ahead of the draft. Both Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams are eligible for a fifth-year extension as former first-round picks.
Josh Paschal, Kerby Joseph, and Malcolm Rodriguez are also eligible for extensions. In addition, when Holmes signed Za’Darius Smith in late November, it was only a one-year contract. Smith is a great addition to the defense and has been open about his desire to stay with Detroit.
Trust in Holmes and the front office to quietly and efficiently prioritize signing these extensions in the next several weeks. Once that’s accomplished, they can look ahead and focus on the upcoming draft.