In 2023, St. Brown emerged as one of the premier receivers in the NFL, hauling in 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and notching 13 touchdowns. His pivotal contributions were instrumental in the Lions’ advance to the NFC Championship game, where he amassed 22 receptions for 274 yards and a touchdown across three playoff matches. Payton expected the Lions to extend St. Brown’s tenure with a four-year, $100 million contract ahead of his rookie deal’s final year. Additionally, a hefty four-year, $190 million renewal was anticipated for quarterback Jared Goff, aiming to preserve the team’s key passing game elements for years to come.
Further tactical decisions were also anticipated. Specifically, Payton predicted that Detroit would pick up the fifth-year option on Penei Sewell, intending to negotiate a lasting agreement with the vital offensive lineman in the future.
To align with salary cap requirements, the Lions were expected to reconfigure the contracts of linemen Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker, as well as defensive back Cameron Sutton. These financial maneuvers were estimated to generate savings of $17.8 million for the team.
