Jahmyr Gibbs looks like the next running back about to cash in this summer, and he is not being subtle about it.
The Detroit Lions star, who has been in camp but not participating in drills as he pushes for a new contract, gave reporters a thumbs-up on Wednesday when asked if a deal was close. Sometimes a gesture says more than a press conference, and this one screamed “we are almost there.”
Colton Pouncy of The Athletic captured the moment as Gibbs walked into the facility in uniform for the first time since camp started. He was limited, but the body language was loud. NFL insider Albert Breer confirmed the vibe, reporting that the Lions and Gibbs are “working on a new deal that’s expected to be finalized soon.”
The Running Back Market Is Suddenly Real Again
For years, general managers treated running back contracts like they were rigged with explosives. Sign one at big money and prepare to eat cap for a player who fell off a cliff in three years. That narrative just took a beating over the last week.
Bijan Robinson reset the market with his three-year, $75 million extension in Atlanta. Jonathan Taylor followed with a two-year, $44 million deal in Indianapolis. Now Gibbs is next in line, and the ceiling keeps rising.
Gibbs has earned it. Since Detroit selected him 12th overall in the 2023 draft, he has been one of the most electric offensive players in football. He is the perfect modern back: patient runner, dangerous receiver, mismatch weapon in the open field. Pair him with David Montgomery and you have the best backfield in the league.
What the Deal Might Look Like
Bijan’s deal is the ceiling: $22.25 million per year with $51 million guaranteed. Gibbs has a case to push that number. He plays a bigger role in the passing game, and his advanced metrics are among the best at the position. If the Lions are smart, they lock him in before the market moves again.
Detroit has zero reason to play hardball here. This is a Super Bowl-contending roster with a young core that needs to stay together. Dan Campbell’s offense simply does not function the same way without Gibbs, and the Lions have shown a pattern of extending their own guys early and often.
The Bigger Picture in Detroit
The Lions are betting on themselves. They already handed Jared Goff a massive extension. Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, all locked in long-term. Adding Gibbs to that list is the final piece of the “keep our guys” strategy that Brad Holmes has run since taking over as GM.
The 2026 season is set up to be a title-or-bust year for Detroit. Getting Gibbs signed and back on the practice field with no distraction is step one. Based on that thumbs-up, step one is about to be checked off.
The over/under on when this deal gets announced should be sometime in the next 48 hours. Set your alerts.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
