For the Detroit Lions, extending Jahmyr Gibbs' contract isn't a matter of if, but when. But amid growing buzz about a blockbuster payday, one NFL analyst has sounded a warning for Detroit before they hand him a megamoney contract.

Writing about it, The Athletic's Austin Mock noted, "I don't have the stomach for that much risk, not after seeing what happened to players like Elliott and Gurley."

Both Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott were among the top running backs in the league in the late 2010s, receiving massive contracts that made them two of the highest-paid running backs.

However, two years after receiving the contracts, both Gurley and Elliott fizzled out, going from back-to-back 1000+ yard seasons to struggling.

"Perhaps Robinson and Gibbs will age like Henry, Taylor, or McCaffrey and end up being worth $20 million per year right now, but history tells us that's not the best bet to make."

Alternatively, as Mock suggested, they could keep performing strongly after a mega-money contract, with the likes of Christian McCaffrey (1202 yards and 10 TDs) and Derrick Henry (1,595 yards and 16 TDs in 2025) showing the same.

The season will be a real test for Gibbs. He's coming off a 1,223-yard, 13-touchdown season, going for back-to-back years where he had more than 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns.

However, he's lost fellow RB David Montgomery this year, making this an interesting scenario for Gibbs to prove himself as the star running back.

In any case, Gibbs' contract could change the way running backs are awarded contracts.

Analysts Believe Jahmyr Gibbs Will Reset the RB Market

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay suggested that the Lions might be willing to pay Gibbs even more than fellow 2023 first-round running back Bijan Robinson.

“Both superstars are poised to break the $20.6 million per year record that Saquon Barkley set following his record-chasing 2024 campaign, but their employers haven’t rushed to get a deal done,” writes Kay as per Heavy.

The insider further explained that Gibbs deserves to be paid that amount, considering he has been one of the most important parts of the Lions' success.

“He should be compensated fairly for his immense contributions to Detroit’s offense with a record-breaking contract. He’s far too important to the Lions’ offensive scheme to not lock up to a long-term extension this offseason,” wrote Kay.

Through his first three NFL seasons, Gibbs has built an impressive resume, earning three Pro Bowl selections while racking 3580 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns. In addition to that, he has added 181 catches for 1,449 yards and 10 scores as a receiver.

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar