Jahmyr Gibbs' Lions extension: Answering all the key questions

DETROIT -- Cha-ching! Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs is now the NFL's highest-paid running back.

Few players in league history have had a better start to their NFL career than the 24-year-old Gibbs, who has earned three straight Pro Bowl nods and is an early betting favorite to be the 2026 Offensive Player of the Year.

Gibbs is clearly the man in Detroit. He will now have the keys to the offense under first-year Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, while handling the bulk of the carries.

Despite a 9-8 finish in which Detroit missed the postseason last season, Gibbs accounted for 1,839 scrimmage yards (fifth most in the NFL) and 18 touchdowns (second most) in 2025.

His 3,580 rushing yards are also the 22nd most for a player's first three seasons since yardage statistics were first recorded in 1932, according to ESPN Research.

Still, he's not satisfied, and says he thinks fans haven't seen the best version of him yet.

Now with his extension in hand, he'll probably reach that peak form in a Lions uniform.

"Nah. I don't think so," Gibbs told ESPN when asked if he's played his best football yet. "Me personally, I could've done a lot of stuff throughout the year to get us out of some holes."

ESPN Lions reporter Eric Woodyard, NFL insider Ben Solak, analytics writer Seth Walder and senior fantasy football writer Mike Clay break down what the new deal means.

Why did the Lions extend Gibbs now?

It's a no-brainer. Gibbs is one of the most exciting and explosive players in the league and the Lions have secured him for his prime years, which is crucial for a running back since they typically decline at a faster rate compared to other positions because of the workload. So, why not now?

This new deal also ended a hold-in situation in which Gibbs sat out six consecutive practices at training camp while the new deal was being negotiated. It comes after the Falcons and RB Bijan Robinson agreed to a three-year extension Tuesday morning that includes $51 million guaranteed, setting the stage for Gibbs' new deal.

Furthering Gibbs' case, he's off to a historic start in his NFL career, scoring the most touchdowns (49) of any player in their first three seasons. He is expected to take on a larger workload in 2026 after the Lions traded his backfield mate David Montgomery to the Houston Texans this offseason. His production as a versatile threat is much deserving as a foundational, long-term part of the organization. -- Woodyard

What does this mean for other Lions eligible for extensions, such as TE Sam LaPorta and DB Brian Branch?

Not much. Gibbs' record-setting contract extension is no surprise to anyone. He earned it and the organization had prepared for it.

The Lions didn't splurge on any free agent signings this offseason. General manager Brad Holmes said the team was fully aware of its financial constraints, with looming extensions already being put in place for not only Gibbs, but for LaPorta and Branch as well -- two more players they hope to retain.

With Gibbs' deal done, the question now is who's next. Detroit swears by its draft-and-develop approach under Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, and plans to keep as many of its key drafted players around for as long as possible. This, the team hopes, will keep its Super Bowl window open for the foreseeable future. -- Woodyard

Is it risky to invest so much financially into Gibbs, given running backs' short careers and early peaks?

Every top-of-market contract has some inherent risk to it. What if the player gets hurt? What if he doesn't dominate the position, instead remaining one of the five or 10 best, failing to outperform players who are on lesser deals? But specific to the running back position, it's hard to get overly concerned about Gibbs' current state.

Gibbs has at least 300 touches in each of the past two seasons but never more than 250 carries, which minimizes the amount of big contact he's taking between the tackles. He was not heavily used in college (under 500 total touches) and entered the league as a 21-year-old rookie. With three more years attached to his remaining two seasons, this extension will take him to the age of 28. The Lions have every reason to believe Gibbs will be an elite back for the next several years, and they have paid him as such. -- Solak

Is Gibbs actually worth paying more than Bijan Robinson?

Paying top-of-the-market price on a deal for Gibbs works for the same three reasons it does for Robinson:

• He's a legitimately elite running back

• He's particularly dangerous as a receiver, which is what matters most

• He's only 24 years old

Gibbs' numbers last season weren't quite as good as Robinson's (168 rush yards over expected to Robinson's 249 and 126 receiving yards over expected to Robinson's 201, per NFL Next Gen Stats) but I feel these are the best two running backs in the NFL. Though this is top-of-the-market money for a running back today, it's cheaper than what running backs were paid in the past. For example, in 2015, Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch signed deals that were worth the equivalent of $29.4 million and $25.2 million per year, respectively, in 2026's cap environment. -- Walder

What should we expect from Gibbs in fantasy this season?

Clay's 2026 projection: 283 carries, 1,374 yards, 15 TDs; 86 targets, 68 receptions, 547 yards, 3 TDs

Gibbs has finished in the top 10 among running backs in yards per carry, routes, targets, receptions, touchdowns and fantasy points in each of his first three seasons. In fact, his 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons are four more than any other player. Though Gibbs has finished as a top-three fantasy back in each of the past two years, he has yet to finish a season higher than seventh in touches. That very well could change this season with Montgomery no longer in the mix. Gibbs is one of the NFL's top playmakers in one of its best offenses. He's a strong option with the first pick of fantasy drafts. -- Clay