Jahmyr Gibbs Got Paid, and Now Brad Holmes Has Two More Problems to Solve
Jahmyr Gibbs got his money. Three years, up to $75.75 million, with $51.5 million guaranteed. That is an absolutely gigantic number for a running back, and it is also exactly what the Lions needed to do.
Gibbs is one of the best young backs in the NFL. He can catch, he can run, he can turn nothing into something, and he fits this offense perfectly. Brad Holmes locked him up, and nobody should be surprised.
But here is the thing about solving one problem in the NFL. It immediately creates two more.
Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta Are Next in Line
The Gibbs extension was expected. Everyone knew it was coming once the dominoes fell at running back around the league. Bijan Robinson got paid. De’Von Achane got paid. Jonathan Taylor got paid. Detroit knew the number, they structured it, and they got it done.
Now the real questions start. Can the Lions still afford to extend Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta?
The short answer is yes. The Lions are in good shape cap-wise, and Brad Holmes has shown he knows how to build contracts that push the heavy hits down the road. Gibbs has two years of control remaining under his rookie deal, which means Detroit has breathing room in the near term. But breathing room is not the same as unlimited space, and both Branch and LaPorta are going to cost real money.
When Do Those Deals Get Done?
Based on how the Lions have handled extensions in the past, you can probably expect Branch and LaPorta to get their deals done during the 2026 season. November or December is the likely window. That is when Aidan Hutchinson got his extension. That is when David Montgomery got his. That is when Alim McNeill got his. Detroit likes to take care of its own while the season is happening, and there is no reason to think this will be any different.
Branch is going to get a big deal. Top three or four safety money is a safe bet. Maybe he sets the market, maybe he does not, but he is going to get paid like one of the best at his position.
LaPorta is the one who could blow the top off the tight end market. Someone is going to hit that $20 million per year range eventually, and LaPorta might be the guy. He is that good.
The Lions Can Afford This, But It Gets Tight
The first year of Gibbs’ new extension does not hit until 2028. Detroit has him contractually under control in 2026 and 2027 on relatively lower cap hits, and the Lions have shown they know how to structure these deals to avoid cap hell in the short term. The 2028 cap hit will be a lower one as well. The 2029 number will be higher but still kind of low. The big numbers will come in 2029 and 2030, and by then the Lions will either extend Gibbs again or restructure the deal.
Branch and LaPorta are both going to get their money. The Lions are not going to let either one walk. Brad Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt here, and he has shown he can manage a cap without blowing it up.
But make no mistake, this is where the championship window starts to get expensive. You cannot keep everyone forever, and at some point, hard decisions are going to have to be made. For now, the Lions are in good shape. The question is how long they can keep all their best players together before the math stops working.
Gibbs Is Back at Practice, Sort Of
Gibbs returned to practice on Thursday, though it was limited. He took some reps during walkthrough and then went off to the side with trainers. Dan Campbell mentioned there was something going on with Gibbs’ back during the conditioning period, but it does not sound serious. The Lions are just being careful before he jumps into full contact practices.
Everyone can stop freaking out. Gibbs got his deal, he is back on the field, and the Lions are in full go mode.
Now comes the hard part. Paying your stars is the easy decision. Figuring out how to keep all of them without mortgaging the future? That is where Brad Holmes earns his paycheck.
Do you trust Brad Holmes to get Branch and LaPorta locked up without blowing the whole thing up, or are we two years away from cap hell? Drop your take below.
