Jahmyr Gibbs Fifth-Year Option Set at $14.293M as Lions Weigh Long-Term Strategy
The NFL has finalized the 2026 salary cap and the fifth-year option figures for 2023 first-round picks, and Jahmyr Gibbs' fifth-year option has been set at $14, 293, 000. That figure, driven by Gibbs' two Pro Bowl selections, frames Detroit's upcoming decisions about contract strategy and roster construction.
What Jahmyr Gibbs' Fifth-Year Option Means for Detroit
Jahmyr Gibbs' fifth-year option is $14, 293, 000 because he has been selected to two Pro Bowls. If the Lions exercise the option, Gibbs would be under contract for the 2027 season on a one-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $14, 293, 000. At that level, he would rank as the fourth-highest cap hit among running backs, trailing three players whose cap numbers are notably higher.
The fifth-year option structure used here is based on position and on accomplishments such as Pro Bowl selections and playing-time thresholds. Players with multiple Pro Bowl nods occupy the top tier, with descending tiers for single Pro Bowl selections, playtime milestones, and a baseline level.
Cap Context and How the Lions Might Use Options and Extensions
The NFL set the 2026 salary cap at $301. 2 million, a $22 million increase from the prior year. With the cap established, teams now have clear dollar figures for franchise tags and fifth-year options. For the Lions, that clarity matters because their front office has publicly identified certain young players as core building blocks they want to retain long-term.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes named Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell—along with second-round picks Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch—as key pieces the team wants to keep around for the long haul. That statement frames the likely approach: the organization can either exercise fifth-year options, pursue contract extensions, or use a mix of both tools to lock in talent.
Historically, the fifth-year option has been used as a negotiating lever: it can serve as a bridge year that is later absorbed into a longer-term extension rather than announced as a standalone move. The Lions have used that flexibility in the past, creating scenarios where an option is effectively tacked onto a newly negotiated deal.
Jack Campbell’s Price Tag and Decision Timeline
Jack Campbell’s fifth-year option has also been set and carries a significantly higher figure—$21, 925, 000—because of a single Pro Bowl selection. That dollar amount places Campbell among the upper tier of off-ball linebacker cap hits and is notably higher than the comparative defensive end tier at a similar level.
Given the disparity in position-market dynamics, the Lions could find Campbell’s option to be disproportionately costly. Discussion within the organization has flagged that possibility; if the team were to shy away from one of its options, Campbell’s is the one most likely to be reconsidered because of the structural inflation at linebacker fifth-year levels.
The league-wide deadline for teams to decide whether to exercise fifth-year options on their 2023 first-round picks is May 1. That calendar constraint concentrates negotiation activity in the weeks ahead and will force the club to weigh guaranteed cost against longer-term planning.
What’s Next
- The salary cap number is now locked at $301. 2 million for 2026, establishing the financial backdrop for extensions and tags.
- Decisions on fifth-year options for 2023 first-round picks, including Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell, must be made by May 1.
- The Lions can choose to exercise options outright, use them as leverage for extensions, or decline options if costs outpace value projections.
These option figures create a clearer negotiating landscape for Detroit. The team’s stated desire to keep key contributors around long-term intersects directly with the new dollar figures, setting up high-stakes roster and contract choices in the coming weeks. Details of any final moves and extensions may evolve as the Lions weigh guaranteed costs against roster priorities.
