What a Jonah Jackson contract would look like for the Lions
Things have drastically altered for the Detroit Lions and guard Jonah Jackson. The Lions had the opportunity to extend him last season, and extension forecasts had him cashing in on a hefty contract worth between $10 and $12 million per year. The caveat included in Justin Rogers’ Detroit News article, which is embedded there, is that the price will most likely come assuming no unanticipated injuries.
Well, as Fat Joe famously stated, “yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” Those injuries occurred repeatedly. Jackson has missed games three times this season due to various injuries. One of these was the NFC Championship, where his presence could be beneficial. Jackson has missed a total of 10 games over the last two seasons, including four last year.
Furthermore, Jackson’s play dropped off this year following two solid seasons. He allowed 24 pressures, two sacks, and eight quarterback hits in 798 snaps, a career low. He also earned some of the lowest Pro Football Focus grades of his career. He moved from a 66.1 grade in 2022 to a 59.7 grade in 2023. The worst fall occurred in the running game. He went from 70.3 to 58.2.
With all of that in mind, the question now is whether Jackson should be brought back to Detroit, and if so, is he prepared to accept much less in this deal? Our on-staff cap analysts at AtoZ Sports have created a contract prediction for Jackson, and they believe the Lions should offer him a one-year, $3.5 million contract, with $2 million guaranteed.
That’s a prove-it deal for Jackson. If he can stay healthy all season and return to his past levels of play, he will be able to return in 2025 and potentially land the deal he was hoping for this offseason.
