Detroit locks in Gibbs, declines Campbell’s option The Detroit Lions made their first major post-draft decision. Jameer Gibbs is secured on his fifth-year option for 2027 at 14.3 million. Jack Campbell’s fifth-year option will not be exercised. The difference is the math. Campbell’s All Pro season flipped his option into the franchise tag value for linebackers. That one-year number sits at 21.9 million. Detroit will not carry that charge for an off ball linebacker in 2027. The team still controls Gibbs for 2026 on his rookie deal. Picking up his option locks a placeholder for 2027 at a number that is likely below his market. A new contract can supersede it. Expect that conversation before 2027 arrives. Why the linebacker price exploded Option values escalate. A Pro Bowl raises the figure. An All Pro nod pushes it to the franchise tag value. The NFL and NFLPA still group all linebackers together. Off ball players are lumped with edge rushers. That puts Campbell in the same bucket as stars like Micah Parsons and even Miles Garrett if classified that way. It distorts the market for a player who does not rush the passer on every snap. Campbell has earned top status at his role. He ascended last season. But a single-year 21.9 million cap hit is untenable. Declining the option is not a slight. It is the necessary bridge to a long-term deal that reflects his impact without smashing one season of cap space. The path to a Campbell extension A multi-year agreement spreads cost and control. Think four years at a market rate level with significant guarantees. Structure matters. Detroit can use signing bonus and option bonuses, then add void years to spread charges. That amortizes money over time instead of swallowing it in one year. The result is a cleaner 2027 cap while rewarding an elite off ball linebacker. This approach also removes the uncertainty that comes with a single-season option. It provides stability for the player and flexibility for the club. The longer negotiations wait, the more comparable deals rise. Moving now helps both sides. Branch and LaPorta hit contract years Second-rounders do not have fifth-year options. Brian Branch and Sam Laporta head into the final years of their rookie contracts. Branch’s injury complicates timing. You want the deal, but the health timeline is unclear. He has never won with raw speed. He wins with feel, with smarts, and with physicality. That profile still plays, but the medical piece matters. Laporta’s situation is straightforward. No option, one year left, and production to price. Expect those talks to heat up after the option decisions cool. The Detroit Lions Podcast will stay on the mechanics as May 1 approaches and the 2027 picture sharpens. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jahmyrgibbs #jackcampbell #fifthyearoptions #contracts #brianbranch #samlaporta #contractextensionprojections #jamesproche #djreader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices