Guard Jonah Jackson signed a lucrative contract during the NFL’s permitted tampering period on March 11. However, he will not return to the Detroit Lions.
On March 11, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Jackson would sign a three-year, $51 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams. The transaction will contain a $34 million guarantee.
“A big payday for Jackson, who will join the recently re-signed Kevin Dotson as L.A. pours big money into the middle of their offensive line,” Garafolo said on X (previously Twitter).
The #Rams have agreed to terms with G Jonah Jackson on a three-year, $51 million contract, with $34 million guaranteed, according to sources.
Jackson will join the recently re-signed Kevin Dotson as Los Angeles invests heavily in the middle of its offensive line.
Jackson has been a starter for Detroit since his debut season in 2020. He was more than a reliable offensive lineman for the Lions during the last four seasons. In 2021, he started 16 out of 17 games and earned the Pro Bowl.
In 2023, Jackson started 12 regular-season games at left guard. He also started the team’s first two postseason games.
Jackson will not be able to sign his new contract until 4 p.m. ET on March 13, when NFL free agency officially opens. However, Jackson is departing Detroit just hours after Garafolo announced that the Lions had reached an agreement in principle on a new contract with guard Graham Glasgow.
Lions re-sign Graham Glasgow and Jonah Jackson. Signs with Rams.
The Lions entered the NFL’s authorized tampering period with more salary cap room than any other team but five. However, it was improbable that the Lions would retain both of their starting offensive guards from the 2023 season.
Detroit decided to re-sign Glasgow before the legal tampering period began.
Glasgow was a far cheaper alternative. He agreed to return to the Lions for three years and $20 million, with $9.5 million guaranteed.
Although free agency has yet to begin, offensive guards have already had a busy summer. Kevin Dotson and Robert Hunt, Pro Football Focus’ top two free agency offensive linemen, agreed to new contracts worth at least $16 million per year on average.
The Carolina Panthers awarded Hunt a five-year, $100 million contract. That agreement will place him among the top three highest-paid guards in the NFL in terms of average annual salary.
Ironically, Jackson and Dotson will be teammates on the Rams’ offensive line. The two guards each inked contracts worth at least $48 million.
The Lions may have just preferred Glasgow’s price tag to Jackson’s. However, Detroit’s guard pick may have also been influenced by durability.
Including the playoffs, Jackson missed six games in 2023-24 due to ankle, knee, and wrist injuries.
How will the Lions replace Jackson?
While the Lions were able to keep one of their starting guards from 2023, Jackson’s departure creates a void on Detroit’s offensive line.
The top free agency guard choices have been signed, but given the Lions’ decision not to re-sign Jackson, they are expected to be more frugal at the position.
A week before the start of free agency, Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit recommended 13 guard choices for the Lions. Some of the prospective prospects have already signed with other teams. However, Reisman’s second-tier guard choices, such as Ezra Cleveland, Damien Lewis, and Kevin Zeitler, remain available.
The “bargain bin” guard alternatives are also unsigned, and the Lions might add them later in free agency.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai, a seasoned guard, is another unrestricted free agent for the Lions. Vaitai was a huge free agent signing for Detroit in 2020, but after only playing six games in the previous two seasons due to injury, he is unlikely to return.
Aside from Graham, the only offensive lineman under contract in Detroit for 2024 who can play guard are Netane Muti, Matt Farniok, and Colby Sorsdal.
