Since being drafted in 2023, running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been an asset to the Detroit Lions in both pass-catching and rushing. However, one Lions beat writer now believes that his ratio in both these roles could benefit from a change in 2026.

Detroit Beat Writer Mike Payton has highlighted the team's strengths for the upcoming season. With better options in certain departments, he has explained how rethinking his involvement could have health benefits for the star player as well.

"There are just so many places to go with the ball...(this is) an opportunity to dial back Gibbs’ usage in the pass game in favor of utilizing him in the run game a lot more," Payton wrote on May 22.

In 2025 alone, Gibbs added 615 receiving yards to his tally, in addition to 1,223 rushing yards, racking up 18 total touchdowns.

"You’re theoretically able to keep Gibbs from taking as many hits as he’d be taking doing both rushing and receiving all the time," Payton added. "That alone is worth the change."

Through his first three NFL seasons, Jahmyr Gibbs has largely avoided any major injury scares. This only highlights how valuable he has become.

Still, with Gibbs entering Year 4, caution remains important after the running back previously dealt with minor hamstring strains during both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

So far, though, Gibbs has only failed to appear in two games in his rookie year in the NFL, appearing in a total of 49 games. Naturally, the Lions would want to lock their overall no. 12 for the future soon, and Adam Schefter believes he knows when this could happen.

Will the Detroit Lions extend Jahmyr Gibbs' Contract this Summer?

Jahmyr Gibbs remains on the four-year rookie contract he signed with the Detroit Lions back in 2023.

The deal runs through the 2027 season, meaning Gibbs entered 2026 with two years remaining on his rookie agreement and will have one year left once the upcoming season concludes.

As per Adam Schefter's comments on the Pat McAfee show, though, soon, the Lions could offer him a new contract.

“Yeah, I think this is a whole work-in progress, because there are a lot of players that have to get paid there," Schefter revealed. "Jahmyr Gibbs, I would think would be next. A deal at some point this summer for Gibbs, (Atlanta Falcons RB) Bijan Robinson. Those are gonna be big, blockbuster deals.”

Financially, Gibbs’ rookie contract has steadily climbed year by year. He initially earned a base salary below $1 million during his 2023 rookie campaign alongside a signing bonus of roughly $2.5 million per Spotrac.

That base figure is set to rise to around $1.1 million in 2026 with similar bonus structures attached, before jumping significantly to nearly $14.2 million in fully guaranteed money for the 2027 season.

With Jahmyr Gibbs continuing to explode into one of the league’s most dynamic backs, the Detroit Lions now appear headed toward an important balancing act between maximizing his production and protecting their long-term investment.

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Written by

Aadesh Dhote

Edited by

Rudra Dubey