During the NFL owners’ meetings in Florida this week, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes revealed that the team has already begun discussions on a contract extension with cornerback Amani Oruwariye.
When asked about possible new deals for Oruwariye and tight end T.J. Hockenson, who will have his fifth-year option picked up if the two sides can’t agree on an extension, Holmes sounded optimistic about locking up the young CB,
“We’re always looking down the road and not just trying to be a prisoner of the moment here and there,” Holmes told reporters. “Those are discussions that we will have. We’ve already had ‘em, actually. I’m not going to get into specifics, but we always keep the dialogue open.”
What exactly would a contract extension look like for Oruwariye?
The 2019 fifth-round pick is coming off a strong first season in coordinator Aaron Glenn’s active defense. In 14 games, the starting outside corner led the Lions with six INTs and 11 PDs to go with a career-high 57 tackles. It was a big step forward for Oruwariye, who had flashed ability in his first two seasons under head coach Matt Patricia but only in fits and spurts. In 2021 under Glenn and head coach Dan Campbell, those fits and spurts spanned multiple games.
Now 26, Oruwariye is entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract. He’ll make just over $2.62 million. Given the injury questions around him at outside CB (Jeff Okudah, Jerry Jacobs) and his impressive playmaking ability, keeping Oruwariye should be a priority.
Over The Cap lists Oruwariye’s valuation at $8.48 million for 2022. That’s a good ballpark range to start from in figuring out what an extension for No. 24 will be. There are some other recent cornerback contracts that factor into play, too. While they’re not perfect comparisons, it’s a good gauge for what type of money Oruwariye and his representation will be looking for in an extension.
Charvarius Ward: The 27-year-old left the Chiefs for the 49ers on a 3-year contract worth $40.5 million. The deal includes two void years for cap management purposes and a $12 million (rounded) signing bonus. The total guaranteed money on Ward’s deal is $18.06 million and another $8.56 million gets guaranteed in a year (that’s injury protection for the team).
Levi Wallace: The Steelers signed the 26-year-old Wallace from the Bills on a 2-year contract worth $8 million, with $2.95 million fully guaranteed. It’s a bit of a bargain for Pittsburgh in landing Wallace, who started 45 games in the last three seasons for Buffalo.
D.J. Reed: The New York Jets pounced on Reed to the tune of three years and $33 million, with $10.5 million fully guaranteed at signing. Reed, 25, started 22 games in Seattle over two seasons after the 49ers gave up on him after two unimpressive years.
Donte Jackson: Carolina kept Jackson, the Panthers’ own 2nd-round pick in 2018, with a 3-year, $35.18 million contract. Jackson, 26, has started for the Panthers for four years but is coming off his worst season.
Here’s how those CBs stacked up statistically in 2021:
| Tackles | INTs | PDs | Comp % allowed | PFF Coverage grade | |
| Oruwariye | 57 | 6 | 11 | 61.0 | 60.3 |
| Jackson | 61 | 2 | 10 | 62.7 | 56.1 |
| Reed | 78 | 2 | 10 | 47.7 | 75.4 |
| Wallace | 58 | 2 | 10 | 58.0 | 63.9 |
| Ward | 67 | 2 | 10 | 51.3 | 69.4 |
The NFL does place something of a premium on interceptions, the one area where Oruwariye stands out. From a contractual standpoint, that likely raises the overall value. But Oruwariye doesn’t have as strong of a track record as Jackson, Wallace or Ward either.
A three-year extension worth $25.5 million, with $10.5 million guaranteed, feels in the right range for Oruwariye. He could counter by asking for more guaranteed money but less overall contract value, something many players who can get another lucrative contract later on often opt to do. Three years, $24 million with $13.5 million guaranteed offers that kind of deal.
Somewhere between $7.5 and $10 million per year with between 35-50 percent guaranteed are the likely parameters for what Oruwariye will ultimately get. The Lions could structure it so the initial cap hit won’t be damaging, too.
