Eric WoodyardApr 23, 2025, 07:12 PM ET
CloseEric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted,” “Ethan’s Talent Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan.Open Extended Reactions
The Detroit Lions have agreed to a four-year, $86 million extension with All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
The deal makes Joseph the highest-paid safety in NFL history with an average of $21.5 million per year. That surpasses the $21 million deal for Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.; the $19.1 million deal for Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. ranks third.
Joseph will be entering his fourth season in the league after the Lions selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft.
He led the NFL with nine interceptions last season, tied for the most by any Lions player of the last 50 years (Jimmy Allen also had nine in 1981). That included