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The running back market has officially taken off during the 2026 offseason. First, the Atlanta Falcons locked up Bijan Robinson with a record-setting extension, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. Shortly after, the Indianapolis Colts followed suit by extending veteran star Jonathan Taylor. Now, all eyes in the NFL have shifted to the Detroit Lions, as running back Jahmyr Gibbs is in the midst of negotiating a long-term deal.
Not surprisingly, Robinson and Taylor's new contracts are bound to have a direct impact on Gibbs, and it'll be interesting to see how his new deal compares to Robinson's, specifically. Both players are 24 years old and at the peak of their careers. Taylor, in his defense, is only 27 and is showing no signs of slowing down. But after Robinson received a three-year, $75 million contract with $51 million guaranteed, it's likely Gibbs will and in that same ballpark.
Unfortunately for the Lions, it's fair to assume that Robinson's deal getting done before Gibbs could ultimately hurt their bottom line. Based on annual salary, per Over The Cap, Robinson surpassed Saquon Barkley ($22.25 million per year vs. $20.6 million) and cleared him by more than $15 million in guaranteed money.
On a positive note, The Athletic's Jonathan Jones reported on Thursday that there's "optimism" that Gibbs and the Lions could get a deal done this week.
Gibbs has remained sidelined throughout the start of training camp, but there could be good news on the horizon, as ESPN's Eric Woodyard reported that Gibbs returned to practice on Thursday. Whether this is a sign of a new deal on the horizon or not remains the big question, but it's at least a positive step forward.
As for Gibbs' contract valuation, it's hard to imagine him receiving much less than Robinson, and it's unlikely he'll fall below Barkley in terms of yearly value. The guaranteed money just became even more interesting following the $51 million-plus that Robinson earned, but I'd expect Gibbs to be in the same ballpark as Robinson on both fronts.
However, with the running back market being reset with Atlanta's new deal for Robinson, could it be reset again in the coming days if and when Gibbs puts pen to paper? Don't be surprised if so.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jahmyr Gibbs contract talks: How Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor Extensions Impact Lions RB
Continue reading...
Not surprisingly, Robinson and Taylor's new contracts are bound to have a direct impact on Gibbs, and it'll be interesting to see how his new deal compares to Robinson's, specifically. Both players are 24 years old and at the peak of their careers. Taylor, in his defense, is only 27 and is showing no signs of slowing down. But after Robinson received a three-year, $75 million contract with $51 million guaranteed, it's likely Gibbs will and in that same ballpark.
Will Jahmyr Gibbs' contract extension top Bijan Robinson's new deal?
Unfortunately for the Lions, it's fair to assume that Robinson's deal getting done before Gibbs could ultimately hurt their bottom line. Based on annual salary, per Over The Cap, Robinson surpassed Saquon Barkley ($22.25 million per year vs. $20.6 million) and cleared him by more than $15 million in guaranteed money.
On a positive note, The Athletic's Jonathan Jones reported on Thursday that there's "optimism" that Gibbs and the Lions could get a deal done this week.
Gibbs has remained sidelined throughout the start of training camp, but there could be good news on the horizon, as ESPN's Eric Woodyard reported that Gibbs returned to practice on Thursday. Whether this is a sign of a new deal on the horizon or not remains the big question, but it's at least a positive step forward.
As for Gibbs' contract valuation, it's hard to imagine him receiving much less than Robinson, and it's unlikely he'll fall below Barkley in terms of yearly value. The guaranteed money just became even more interesting following the $51 million-plus that Robinson earned, but I'd expect Gibbs to be in the same ballpark as Robinson on both fronts.
However, with the running back market being reset with Atlanta's new deal for Robinson, could it be reset again in the coming days if and when Gibbs puts pen to paper? Don't be surprised if so.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jahmyr Gibbs contract talks: How Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor Extensions Impact Lions RB
Continue reading...
