The Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to a record-breaking deal the day before the NFL draft. While the contract highlighted the team’s strong belief in St. Brown, the receiver contended that it extends beyond that for him and his teammates.
During a press conference on April 26, St. Brown noted that the contract communicates one message to the entire league: the Lions reward hard work.
“If you play well and are a great teammate, you will be rewarded,” St. Brown told reporters. “The Lions have demonstrated that. No one can claim that the Lions do not pay their players. They’ve obviously demonstrated that they will reward you for good play.
On April 25, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that St. Brown and the Lions have agreed to a four-year agreement worth more than $120 million. The transaction also contained a $77 million guarantee.
St. Brown’s contract broke new records for the average annual compensation and guaranteed money of an NFL receiver.
The wide receiver’s contract was also just the start of Detroit’s spending spree. On April 25, the Lions signed offensive tackle Penei Sewell to a four-year, $112 million agreement. The contract made Sewell the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
The Lions reward Amon-Ra St. Brown with a record-setting deal.
On April 25, Detroit pledged to paying St. Brown more than any other NFL team has ever paid a receiver. But he earned it, so it’s difficult to claim he’s not worth every penny.
St. Brown’s production in the NFL has steadily grown year after year. Those gains resulted in the 24-year-old making 119 catches for 1,515 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. He also averaged a career-high 12.7 yards per reception.
Behind those stats, he was named first-team All-Pro and played in his second Pro Bowl.
Over three seasons, St. Brown has averaged 105 catches, over 1,200 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns per season. He’s one of the key reasons the Lions’ offense has been in the top five the last two seasons.
In addition, he could be just getting started. With almost everyone returning on offense from the 2023 Lions, St. Brown will have high expectations this fall.
In 2023, he was third in receptions and receiving yards. He also ranked fourth in receiving touchdowns.
Eagles Receiver A.J. Brown has already broken St. Brown’s record contract.
The exact average annual wage of St. Brown’s contract is currently unknown. However, according to Rapoport, it only remained the league’s highest for one day.
Rapoport revealed during NFL Network’s draft coverage that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed wide receiver A.J. Brown to a three-year, $96 million contract extension. The contract will pay Brown $32 million every season. It also carries a $84 million guarantee.
Both of these figures exceed St. Brown’s contract.
That, however, does little to alter the message the Lions receiver sent to his teammates on April 26.
“I believe the guys in the locker room respect Detroit’s willingness to pay stars. “They appreciate it,” St. Brown told journalists. “They understand the effort we put out as players since they are around us every day. It means a lot.
The next Lions player projected to sign a large contract is quarterback Jared Goff. On April 16, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press noted that “there’s a good chance” the veteran signal caller would earn an extension before the 2024 regular season.
