Bijan Robinson’s new deal just put Jahmyr Gibbs’ contract talks under a brighter spotlight.
The Atlanta Falcons star running back signed a 3-year, $75 million extension to remain with Atlanta through 2030, and in the process became the highest-paid back in the NFL for the moment. For Gibbs and the Detroit Lions, that’s the kind of move that shifts the conversation fast.
Gibbs is still holding-in at Lions training camp, and Robinson’s payday was one of the biggest dominoes to watch in the middle of extension negotiations. The timing matters because either Gibbs was going to land a deal that Robinson could use as a benchmark, or Robinson was going to reset the market first and give Detroit a clear starting point.
That’s where things stand now. The expectation all along was that Robinson and Gibbs would end up setting the pace for running back contracts this offseason.
Both are young stars, both have produced early in their careers, and neither has shown signs of slowing down. Gibbs, especially after the Lions traded David Montgomery, is being called the “bell cow” of Detroit’s offense, and that kind of role usually comes with a contract to match.
Detroit already picked up Gibbs’ fifth-year option, which keeps him under team control through at least 2027. In theory, that gave the Lions extra breathing room to work out a long-term deal before free agency ever entered the picture.
But Robinson’s extension changes the urgency. The clock is moving quicker now.
The big question is whether Detroit will meet or even top what Robinson got. That’s not a simple call when so much money is already lined up on the Lions’ books.
Beginning in 2027, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kerby Joseph, Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, and Penei Sewell account for just over $207 million against the cap already, leaving the Lions a little more than $66 million to work with that season, per Over the Cap.
Then Jack Campbell’s contract kicks in for 2028, adding another $24 million to the mix, while Hutchinson’s deal nearly doubles against the cap. That leaves Detroit with real questions about how aggressive it should be with Gibbs, especially with other major extensions still looming.
There is some possible flexibility. Joseph’s injury issues and D.J.
Reed’s contract ending in 2028 could create room down the road. Joseph could even be released if he can’t stay healthy long term, and Reed may become too expensive to keep once his deal is up.
Still, the cleanest way to look at this is simple: Robinson got X, so Gibbs should get Y. Detroit doesn’t exactly seem to do business that way, though. Even if Gibbs deserves a slightly larger deal than Robinson, the Lions still have Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta to think about, too.
So while Robinson’s extension doesn’t settle Gibbs’ future, it does give everyone a much clearer frame for what comes next.
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