The Detroit Lions continue to do business the right way, in more ways than one. That’s reflected in the blockbuster new contract extension between Miami and star wideout Jaylen Waddle.
The agreement, if the reported details are even close to accurate, makes the Lions management of Amon-Ra St. Brown and his contract extension look even more prudent.
Waddle, one of the wideouts selected ahead of St. Brown in the 2021 NFL draft, will earn $84.75 million on his new three-year extension. Nearly all of that new money, a full $76 million, is guaranteed.
The average of $28.25 million per year comes in below St. Brown’s recent deal with the Lions. St. Brown signed for $120.01 million over four years just before last month’s draft. However, Waddle is getting significantly more guaranteed as a percentage.
Just under 90 percent of Waddle’s deal is guaranteed at signing. St. Brown had $77 million of his $120 million extension guaranteed, or 64 percent. The lower guarantee allows the Lions to more easily spread out the cap hit on St. Brown’s deal than it will be for Miami with Waddle.
Keep in mind the Dolphins are already committed to paying fellow WR Tyreek Hill almost exactly the same contract St. Brown signed for (four years, $120 million). That shows the difference in cap management between Detroit and Miami as well as the Lions’ ability to build a more complete team around their star players.
