Inside the Kerby Joseph deal

In the days preceding the draft, the Lions gave safety Kerby Joseph his second contract. The deal reportedly has a new-money average of $21.5 million per year.

But there's often a difference between the initial reports and the cold, hard truth about the cold, hard cash. In this case, there's a slight difference. But still a difference.



Here are the full and accurate details, per a source with knowledge of the terms:1. Signing bonus: $10.011 million.

2. 2025 offseason workout bonus: $35,000, fully guaranteed but must be earned.3.

2025 base salary: $1.1 million, fully guaranteed.4.

2025 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total, fully guaranteed but must be earned.5. 2026 option bonus: $9.

625 million, fully guaranteed.6. 2026 offseason workout bonus: $150,000, fully guaranteed but must be earned.

7. 2026 base salary: $1.215 million, fully guaranteed.

8. 2026 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total, fully guaranteed but must be earned.9.

2027 offseason workout bonus: $150,0009. 2027 option bonus: $16.58 million, $13 million of which is guaranteed for injury at signing.

Of that amount, $10 million becomes fully guaranteed by 2026. The remaining $3 million becomes fully guaranteed by 2027.10.

2027 base salary: $1.26 milion.11.

2027 per-game roster bonus: $510,000 total.12. 2028 offseason workout roster bonus: $150,000.

13. 2028 base salary: $1.305 million.

14. 2028 per-game active roster bonus: $510,000 total.15.

2029 offseason workout bonus: $150,000.16. 2029 base salary: $1.

435 million.17. 2029 per-game active roster bonus: $510,000 total.

The deal also includes a $500,000 escalator in 2028, with $250,000 coming from an NFC championship win and 90-percent playing time in 2025 and another $250,000 coming from an NFC championship win and 90-percent playing time in 2026. There's also a $500,000 escalator in 2029, with $250,000 coming from an NFC championship win and 90-percent playing time in 2027 and another $250,000 coming from an NFC championship win and 90-percent playing time in 2028.The actual new-money APY is $21.

25 million. The total average of the five-year deal from signing is $17.942 million per year.

The full guarantee at signing is $22.496 million, with a practical guarantee of $32.496 million.

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