Top contracts as St. Brown, Sewell get extensions
WR among highest paid; OL has biggest deal in NFL history
The Detroit Lions locked up their two firstteam All-Pro players for the long haul a day before the 2024 NFL draft begins.
All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year contract extension Wednesday, making him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in football. A little over two hours later, All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell signed the dotted line on a four-year extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history, according to reports.
Sewell, 23, and St. Brown, 24, were two of the first building blocks in the Lions' recent turnaround that culminated in the unprecedented success of the 2023 season, both excelling on the field and leading the teams as captains.
Sewell's deal is for four years worth $112 million with $85 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. Sewell will make $30 million annually in the first three years of the deal, the most ever for an offensive lineman in NFL history. St. Brown's deal is four years for more than $120 million, worth $28 million annually over the first three years, according to reports.
Here is an updated list of the five highestpaid wide receivers and offensive tackles in the NFL currently, based on average annual value, or AAV.
All contract details via Spotrac.
Wide receiver
One caveat: All-Pros Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb are also in line for contract extensions. This list could change drastically soon.
1. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
Total contract: in March 2022.
AAV: $30 million.
Hill received the biggest contract for a wide receiver in NFL history, in terms of AAV, after he was traded to the Miami Dolphins from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
4 years, $120 million; signed
T-2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
Total contract: 4 years, more than $120 million; agreed to in April 2024.
AAV: $28 million for first three years, per reports.
St. Brown doesn't top the list in terms of overall dollars, but he's right up there in terms of the money he will receive each season. He did not have to go into the fourth year of his rookie deal to prove that he is a cornerstone of the Lions' rebuild and will now stick around for the long haul. CBS reported St. Brown will receive $28 million annually the first three seasons, with the deal set to "pay 14M+ guaranteed for injury only in the third year of his extension (at the time of signing)."
T-2. Davante Adams, Raiders
Total contract: 5 years, $140 million; signed in March 2022.
AAV: $28 million.
Adams has the highest total money on a current wide receiver contract, but the fifth year brings his AAV to $28 million, in line with St. Brown on a deal he received soon after he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders from the Green Bay Packers.
4. Cooper Kupp, Rams
Total contract: 3 years, $80.1 million; signed in June 2022.
AAV: $26.7 million.
Kupp, who starred at FCS-level Eastern Washington in college, has been one of the NFL's most productive wide receivers since 2017. He received his contract extension after winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, the season the Rams won the Super Bowl.
5. Devonta Smith, Eagles
Total contract: 3 years, $75 million; signed in April 2024.
AAV: $25 million.
Smith was the other big-name receiver to sign an extension this offseason, just beating out teammate A.J. Brown for fifth. The former Heisman Trophy winner has topped 900 yards in each of his three NFL seasons, including 1,000 twice.
Offensive line
1. Penei Sewell, Lions
Total contract: 4 years, $112 million; agreed
to in April 2024.
AAV: $28 million.
In three seasons in Detroit, Sewell has been nearly impenetrable on the right side of a dominant offensive line group that has kept Detroit's offense humming, especially for a ground game that ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards in 2023, while appearing in 50 of a possible 51 games. That's why he's at the top of his position at the bank now, too.
2. Laremy Tunsil, Txans
Total contract: 3 years, $75 million signed in March 2023.
AAV: $25 million.
Tunsil remains the highest-paid left tackle in football, patrolling the blindside for C.J. Stroud in Houston. Tunsil earned a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2023, his fourth overall.
3. Andrew Thomas, Giants
Total contract: 5 years, $117.5 million; signed in July 2023.
AAV: $23.5 million.
Thomas earned his big contract extension after he was named an All-Pro tackle in his third season (sound familiar?). He started 10 games for the Giants in 2023, limited by injury in a down year for New York.
4. Trent Williams, 49ers
Total contract: 6 years, $138.06 million ;signed in March 2021.
AAV: $23.01 million.
Williams, the oldest player on this list at 35, has the most total money on his deal overall, but the length knocks down the amount per year. Williams has been great for San Francisco at left tackle, setting the tone for its strong outside zone running game.
5. Jordan Mailata, Eagles
Total contract: 3 years, $66 million; signed in April 2024.
Average salary per year: $22 million. At the beginning of April, the Eagles locked down Mailata, a seventh-round pick out of Australia turned Pro Bowl left tackle. The 6foot-8, 366-pounder got his start playing professional rugby in the land down under and turned 27 at the end of March.