DETROIT — 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 guaranteedSt. Brown, a fourth-round pick in 2021, was the 17th receiver taken in a draft class that also included the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase, the Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle, and the Philadelphia Eagles’ DeVonta Smith. 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.
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.
Here’s more context around the Lions’ new contracts, what they mean for the team and players, and what’s next.
