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After emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been rewarded with a four-year, $120 million contract extension that includes $77 million guaranteed from the Detroit Lions, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.
Per Rapoport, the deal makes St. Brown the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, matching the annual average of Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill’s contract and surpassing the guaranteed money on his deal and Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp’s pact as well.
Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported on Feb. 29 that the Lions wanted to sign St. Brown to an extension and spoke to his representatives during the NFL Scouting Combine. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on March 5 that the two sides were “close” to a deal that would pay him $26-28 million per season. St. Brown was entering the final year of his rookie contract and was set to make $3.3 million in 2024.
St. Brown skipped the first day of Detroit’s voluntary workouts this offseason while awaiting his new deal. His extension comes after fellow 2021 draft classmate DeVonta Smith received a three-year extension from the Philadelphia Eagles worth $75 million, with $51 million guaranteed. Smith’s deal was expected to provide the framework for the one St. Brown would receive, but the Lions went a step further by making him the highest-earning receiver.
St. Brown is coming off an impressive 2023 season in which he tied for second in the NFL with 119 receptions, ranked third with 1,515 yards and tied for fourth with 10 touchdowns. He was named to his second straight Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.
The 24-year-old helped lead the Lions to a 12-5 record and their first division title since 1993. After ending a six-year playoff drought, Detroit made it to the NFC Championship Game, where the team lost to the San Francisco 49ers. St. Brown notched 22 catches for 274 yards and a touchdown over three postseason games.
A fourth-round pick out of USC in 2021, St. Brown didn’t take long to establish himself as the primary option in Detroit’s passing attack. He led the team with 912 receiving yards as a rookie and has recorded over 100 catches and 1,000 yards in each of the last two years. He has developed a strong connection with Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who is also expected to receive a contract extension this offseason.
Keeping St. Brown in the fold with this extension will give the Lions a dependable option on the outside whose best years are ahead of him.
