Jahmyr Gibbs may have just gotten a preview of where his next contract could land.
The Detroit Lions already have Gibbs under control through 2028 after picking up his fifth-year option, so there’s no immediate deadline forcing a deal. That gives the team plenty of room to let him keep playing on a very team-friendly setup while still serving as the engine of the offense.
But that doesn’t exactly sound like the Lions’ style. They’ve already locked up several of their key pieces in recent years, including Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, and Jack Campbell, and Gibbs looks like the next name in line.
He says he isn’t overly focused on a new deal, but there’s no question it would make the season feel a little sweeter if one came together.
A recent ESPN ranking from Jeremy Fowler only adds to the intrigue. Fowler slotted Gibbs second among NFL running backs heading into 2026, behind Atlanta Falcons back Bijan Robinson. That kind of placement can say a lot about how the league views a player, and in this case it could also hint at where the extension market is headed for both backs.
"While some voters see Robinson as the better inside runner, Gibbs has proved durable despite running inside and outside the box. With David Montgomery traded to Houston, Gibbs could log his first 300-carry season in 2026. He has averaged 225 carries per year since 2023."
For Detroit, the timing matters. If Fowler’s projection turns into reality, Gibbs could be asked to carry even more of the load before long, and the Lions may not want to wait until that workload pushes his price even higher.
Behind him, the options are thin, with Isiah Pacheco and a few other less than stellar choices on the depth chart heading into 2026. Add in the arrival of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, and it’s easy to see Gibbs becoming the central figure in the offense.
That said, he won’t be doing it alone. The Lions still have one of the strongest offensive groups in the league, and their line will be expected to do plenty of the heavy lifting. It may take some time for that unit to settle in, especially with so many changes up the middle and at tackle.
Still, there’s a real case that the fit between Gibbs, Petzing, and Cade Mays could be especially dangerous. Mays was one of the best centers in a heavy gap scheme back in 2024, and Petzing used that approach often with the Arizona Cardinals. Gibbs, meanwhile, was one of the backs best suited to thrive in that kind of setup that season.
So the question isn’t just whether Gibbs can keep climbing the running back rankings. It’s whether he can play his way into the top spot - and maybe even into the conversation as the league’s highest-paid back. That possibility should be enough to make Detroit move sooner rather than later before Gibbs outgrows the number on the table.
In Other News...
Former Lions CB Terrion Arnold May Not Wait Long To Land
Terrion Arnolds next stop could come together quickly after the former Lions cornerback cleared waivers and became free to sign with any NFL team. His release has already pushed him into a market where teams are looking for secondary help, and his camp says the phone has started to ring.
Among the clubs that could make sense are the Jets, where a reunion with Aaron Glenn would be the obvious hook, along with the Chiefs, who could use more depth in the back end, and the Buccaneers, who still have questions to sort out in their secondary. For Arnold, the path to a new opportunity appears open, and the only real question now is which team moves fastest. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Roster Rankings Show Who May Already Be Slipping Away
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Luke Altmyer, Anthony Lucas and Colby Sorsdal are among the names drawing attention because each brings a different kind of intrigue, but also a clear path problem. Altmyer has the arm talent and poise to keep scouts interested, Lucas arrives with the kind of upside that can make an undrafted player hard to ignore, and Sorsdal is trying to find his way at tackle while facing a crowded room, which is exactly the kind of competition that can turn a projected depth piece into an afterthought before camp even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
This Lions Addition Could Quietly Change Everything In The Secondary
Roger McCrearys arrival in Detroit gives the Lions another layer of flexibility at cornerback at a time when the secondary is still sorting itself out. Signed to a one-year deal, McCreary brings experience inside and outside, which matters for a team that has been looking for dependable answers after Terrion Arnolds release opened up more opportunity in the defensive backfield.
The appeal is obvious for Detroit: McCreary has already shown he can handle different assignments and stay productive in the NFL, making him a natural fit to compete for a meaningful role right away. He is in the mix for one of the open starting jobs, and while the Lions have other options on the roster, this is the kind of addition that could quietly reshape how the defense lines up once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]