Pro Bowler Jalen Reeves-Maybin was re-signed by the Detroit Lions on a new two-year contract as part of their startling special teams roster.
Interiorr The new deal marks an NFL record for a major special teams player, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network.
“According to his agent @bd_mclaughlin, the #Lions have agreed to a contract extension with Pro Bowl special teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin,” said Garafolo. He becomes the highest-paid core special team player ever with the two-year, $7.5 million contract, which has a maximum value of $8 million.
Veteran Produced Important Special Teams PlaysÂ
Reeves-Maybin had a career-best season in 2023, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press pointed out, recording a league-high 14 special teams tackles in addition to helping the team convert a few other crucial plays.
“He also played a rotational role at linebacker in obvious passing situations and converted two fake punts, one on a 31-yard pass to Khalil Dorsey and one on a 3-yard run,” Birkett said. “Reeves-Maybin was selected to his first Pro Bowl after finishing the previous season with 20 defensive tackles and one sack.”
The seven-year NFL veteran has a great reputation within the team, and in 2021, Lions head coach Dan Campbell praised him for his effort in a humiliating loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Reeves-Maybin stuck out like a sore thumb in that sea of trash we were floating in, that we had dug ourselves into.” Campbell told reporters, “He stood out. “I’m stating that for that reason. For now, all I can say is that I never question who he is or what he’s trying to accomplish. All I know is how he was constructed and sliced. All I have to say is that.
Lions Taking Action with Special TeamsÂ
The second key member of the special teams to sign a new deal with the Lions is Reeves-Maybin. After an open competition, kicker Michael Badgley was re-signed by the organization to a one-year contract and became the team’s starter.
In 2022, Badgley was the kicker for Detroit; however, in an open competition held during the previous season’s training camp, Riley Patterson emerged victorious. After playing for a while, Badgley rejoined Detroit’s practice squad and eventually assumed the starting role towards the end of the season.
Badgley would have to reapply for the position, according to Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
“Badgley has performed admirably. During his career, he has been clutch. Holmes stated in an interview with 97.1 The Ticket, “He’s been good; he’s done what we’ve needed him to do.” “There will be contests for every position going forward. Badgley is aware of the competition and is aware of that. But as of right now, I know he signed and performed a good job, but there will be competition for him.
Holmes made it plain that the Lions would have to exercise caution in free agency due to their budgetary constraints, re-signing players when feasible and carefully considering what outside players to add.
With regard to the resources at our disposal, Holmes stated, “We’ve kind of kept it pretty strategic and selective.” But deciding what constitutes a bigger fish to pursue with free agency is highly arbitrary. Since it’s the same name, I believe I have an idea, but it will still follow our standard procedure.
