When it comes to Detroit Lions players who have taken a leap forward in their career in 2024, safety Kerby Joseph is at or near the top of the list of them.

Joseph was no doubt an effective safety over his first two years in the NFL, and he took a step forward in 2023 from his rookie season. However, he has taken an even bigger leap forward in 2024.

Joseph has posted career-bests in completion rate against (42.4%), passer rating when targeted (39.5) and interceptions (seven). He is also just one pass defensed shy of tying his personal best, which is 11.

With Joseph in the midst of an elite campaign, Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson thinks giving the budding star safety a contract extension is one move the Lions need to make next offseason.

We certainly could’ve utilized Aidan Hutchinson in this spot, but it might not make sense from his agent’s perspective to sign a long-term deal months after a season-ending injury. Instead, Kerby Joseph gets the deal. The best NFL safety in 2024, Joseph’s All-Pro play and his ability to keep this defense playing at a high level despite a weakened pass rush warrants a huge contract. Plus, it’s always wise to sign star talents a year early rather than letting them have the threat of testing the open market or being on the franchise tag which would be the case in 2026.

A 2022 third-round pick, the final year of Joseph’s four-year, $5 million rookie deal is in 2025, so the Lions technically have time to get something done. However, it’s quite possible that Joseph pushes the issue ahead of the final year of his deal, as some players tend to do. The Lions have also been keen on getting contract extensions done ahead of time, like they did this past offseason.

Joseph has absolutely earned the right for a lucrative, long-term extension from the Lions, and there’s no question Detroit wants to keep him around for the long haul, as not only is he a highly impactful player, he’s a leader and gives the Lions extra swag with his supreme confidence.

On the flip side, Joseph is going to be very expensive thanks to his elite numbers across the board. The Lions will have to weigh how much they want to invest in safety, because Joseph isn’t going to be cheap. Ultimately, we think Joseph and Detroit get something done that is fair for both sides.