In a recent update from Allen Park, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes reiterated his intention to secure contract extensions for Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch. This commitment aligns with his earlier statements made during the NFL Scouting Combine in February, where he expressed a desire to retain all four members of the Lions' 2023 draft class, which includes LaPorta, Branch, Jack Campbell, and Jahmyr Gibbs.
As of now, Holmes has made significant progress with two of those players. He has successfully negotiated extensions for Campbell, who signed a lucrative four-year deal worth $81 million, making him the second-highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL, trailing only San Francisco's Fred Warner. Similarly, Gibbs secured a record-breaking three-year contract valued at $67.5 million, earning him the distinction of the highest-paid running back in league history.
When asked about the status of LaPorta and Branch, Holmes confirmed that the team's plans remain unchanged. "We still want to keep those guys around, those plans haven’t changed," he stated on September 2. However, he acknowledged that there are several factors to consider as negotiations progress. "There’s a couple factors that we’ve still got to sort through. But in terms of us wanting those guys around? Absolutely. Hopefully, we can get that done," he added.
Both LaPorta and Branch are recovering from injuries that cut their 2025 seasons short. LaPorta suffered a back injury during a victory against the Washington Commanders on November 9, while Branch's Achilles injury occurred in a game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 4. Fortunately for LaPorta, he has returned to practice and has been participating fully since the start of training camp, with only a brief absence due to a hip issue in August. In contrast, Branch will begin the 2026 season on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which will keep him sidelined for at least the first four games. He is eligible to return to practice on September 18, just after the Lions face the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.
The current landscape of the NFL’s safety market shows that the average annual value for top safeties is around $25.2 million, a figure set by Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers holds the record for the highest annual salary for a tight end at $19.1 million.
Reflecting on Gibbs' contract negotiations, Holmes described the process as "unique," particularly because both Gibbs and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson were vying for new deals simultaneously. Robinson secured a three-year extension worth $66.75 million on August 4, with Gibbs finalizing his contract just two days later. Holmes noted, "It was just more of kind of being patient. Like, we already knew we wanted to do. We just had to see who was going to get done first, and you’ve got to kind of adjust and pivot off of that."
Since taking the helm in 2021, Holmes has successfully signed nine of his draft picks to multi-year extensions. Alongside Jared Goff’s substantial $212 million extension signed after the 2023 season, the Lions have committed over $1 billion in total contract value to their core players, which includes Campbell, Gibbs, Goff, Derrick Barnes, Kerby Joseph, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams.
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