On the eve of Detroit hosting its first NFL draft, the Lions locked down one of the top receivers and one of the top offensive linemen in the NFL with a pair of record-breaking deals.
On Wednesday morning, a source confirmed to ESPN that wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown had agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension that included the most guaranteed money for a receiver in NFL history ($77 million).
Hours later, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter the Lions were signing All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell to the largest contract ever given to an offensive lineman — a four-year, $112 million deal that includes $85 million guaranteed.
St. Brown is one of three players in NFL history with 90-plus catches in each of his first three seasons, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (2014-16) and Michael Thomas (2016-18).
He and Sewell — who will be 29 and 28, respectively, when their deals end — have become foundational players of Detroit’s turnaround from a 3-13-1 team their rookie season to finishing Year 3 a win away from reaching the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
He has used that as fuel for a career that is off to a historic start. Sewell, who was taken No. 7 overall in the same draft, has been equally effective for the Lions, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 2022 and 2023.
Here’s more context around the Lions’ new contracts, what they mean for the team and players, and what’s next.
