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Detroit Lions Activate Fifth-Year Option on Jahmyr Gibbs, Placing Him Among the Highest-Paid Running Backs in the NFL

DETROIT, Michigan — The Detroit Lions have officially exercised the fifth-year option on Jahmyr Gibbs, a strategic move that reinforces his place in the franchise’s long-term plans. With this decision, Gibbs is not only secured through the 2027 season, but also enters the group of running backs with the highest cap hits in the league.

Gibbs’ fifth-year option is set at $14.293 million after earning two Pro Bowl selections. The figure is fully guaranteed and will apply to the 2027 season. It is a significant investment, but one that accurately reflects the value the Lions believe he brings to the organization.

Lions Make Announcement on Jahmyr Gibbs After Monster Game

Since being drafted in 2023, Gibbs has quickly become an essential piece of Detroit’s offensive system. His explosive speed, receiving versatility, and week-to-week consistency have made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. The Lions did not need to wait any longer to affirm that belief.

Inside the organization, confidence in Gibbs has never wavered. “We know exactly what we have in Jahmyr,” an internal source shared. “He’s not just talent — he’s someone who can change the rhythm of a game at any moment.”

By exercising the option instead of immediately negotiating a long-term extension, the Lions maintain financial flexibility while still securing control over their young star’s prime years. At 25 years old in 2027, Gibbs will be entering his physical peak — and Detroit has effectively locked in that window.

The $14.293 million cap hit places him among the highest-paid running backs for the 2027 season, trailing only the biggest names at the position. It demonstrates that the Lions are not only confident, but willing to invest heavily to protect the engine of their offense.

In a league where running backs are often undervalued long-term, Detroit’s decision sends a strong message. Jahmyr Gibbs is not merely a successful draft pick — he is central to the Lions’ championship aspirations in the years ahead.

Just Three Hours After Being Released by the Packers, 2× Pro Bowl Star Deletes Every Post About Green Bay After His Attempt to Take a Pay Cut to Stay Was Rejected — His Vow Never to Return Leaves Packers Nation in Sympathy .
Green Bay, Wisconsin – The offseason took an emotional turn for the Green Bay Packers when the organization decided to release veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins as part of a salary-cap adjustment. But what happened just hours later turned the situation into one of the most emotional storylines of the week across the NFL. According to multiple reports, Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former All-Pro honoree — had attempted to negotiate with the team and even offered to take a pay cut in order to remain with the franchise that originally drafted him. The effort ultimately fell short as Green Bay chose to move forward with a roster reset, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Just three hours after the release became official, fans began noticing something unusual on Jenkins’ social media accounts. Every post connected to his years in Green Bay — from locker room celebrations to photos wearing the iconic green-and-gold uniform — had quietly disappeared. Jenkins had been one of the pillars of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Throughout multiple seasons, he built a reputation for rare versatility, capable of playing guard, tackle, and center at an elite level, and was widely regarded as one of the most reliable and flexible offensive linemen in the league. At his peak, Jenkins was often described as Green Bay’s “secret weapon” on the offensive front. He protected multiple quarterbacks over the years and helped anchor an offense that consistently remained competitive during several playoff runs. His ability to seamlessly shift across nearly every position along the offensive line made him one of the most trusted players inside the Packers’ locker room. At first, the decision to erase those memories surprised many fans. But once reports surfaced that Jenkins had been willing to sacrifice financially just to remain with the team, the reaction across Packers Nation quickly shifted from shock to empathy. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my journey truly began. But sometimes you fight to stay somewhere and still realize that chapter has ended, and when that moment comes, the only thing you can do is walk away with respect for every memory that was built there. While Jenkins did not criticize the organization, sources close to the situation say the emotional weight of the release influenced his decision to remove the posts. What surprised many even more was the report that Jenkins has told people close to him that he does not plan to return to Green Bay at any point in his career, choosing instead to start an entirely new chapter elsewhere in the NFL. Yet instead of anger, the reaction from Packers fans has largely been one of understanding. For many supporters, Jenkins’ willingness to take a pay cut simply reinforced what they had long believed. He wasn’t just protecting the quarterback on Sundays.He was trying to protect a home he once hoped would last his entire career.