Detroit will guarantee Jahmyr Gibbs for 2027 by exercising his fifth-year option, while declining Jack Campbell’s, setting up extension talks for both players.
The Detroit Lions have moved one step closer to locking in their core, exercising the fifth-year option on running back Jahmyr Gibbs while declining the fifth-year option on linebacker Jack Campbell.
For fans. the decision is both a financial signal and a roster message: the Lions see Gibbs as a sure bet to remain central to their offense. while they’re taking a different path with Campbell as extension discussions take center stage.. The result is a more deliberate approach to their long-term plans—guaranteeing one key player immediately. and keeping flexibility with another.
According to Misryoum. Detroit will exercise the fifth-year option on Gibbs’ contract as expected. a move that fully guarantees $14.293 million for the 2027 season.. In practical terms. it means the Lions are choosing stability on the offensive side of the ball. where Gibbs has increasingly operated as both a rushing engine and a threat out of the backfield.
Campbell’s case is the mirror image.. Misryoum reports the Lions will decline the fifth-year option on the linebacker, which would have fully guaranteed $21.925 million.. That doesn’t diminish his value inside the building—Detroit’s intent is reportedly to sign both players to longer-term deals—but it does change the timing and leverage of the negotiations.
Gibbs’ rise has made this option decision feel almost inevitable.. After becoming a full-time starter in 2025. he produced 1. 223 rushing yards on 243 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns. while also adding 77 catches for 616 yards and five receiving scores.. Put simply: the Lions didn’t just use Gibbs as a change-of-pace back—they built an offense plan that can feature him constantly.
Misryoum also points out that Detroit moved in the offseason by trading David Montgomery.. That step helps explain why the Lions are comfortable putting immediate financial weight behind Gibbs.. When a team makes a personnel bet like that. it usually wants to protect the payoff. and exercising the option ensures Gibbs remains firmly in their near-term future.
The bigger football story is how Gibbs fits the Lions’ modern identity.. He’s shown a rare dual-threat profile—capable of creating explosive runs and producing meaningful impact through receptions.. Even his earlier output in 2024 supports the trajectory: Misryoum notes he led the league with 20 rushing and receiving touchdowns that year.. That kind of production creates pressure on defenses. forces constant adjustments. and makes him harder to game-plan against week after week.
Campbell. meanwhile. is coming off a breakout résumé-building season that helps clarify why Detroit wants him long-term even if it’s declining the fifth-year option.. Misryoum reports Campbell earned first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl nod after recording 176 tackles. nine tackles for loss. five sacks. four passes defensed. and three forced fumbles.. Those numbers don’t just reflect volume—they suggest an impact player who affects both run defense and passing downs.
There’s also a strategic reason the Lions could feel comfortable declining Campbell’s option.. By doing so. Detroit keeps a negotiating runway that can align more smoothly with extension structures for players they believe are foundational.. In roster management terms. it’s a way to manage risk: the Lions are essentially saying they value Campbell’s future contributions enough to pursue long-term security. but they’re not locking into the fifth-year figure that comes with the option.
Looking ahead, the next chapter is obvious: contract extension talks.. Misryoum’s reporting suggests Detroit considers Campbell a big part of its future and wants to sign both players long-term.. For Gibbs, the option guarantee buys certainty for 2027.. For Campbell. the declined option keeps leverage in play—often a sign that extension discussions are already active or expected to accelerate.
Either way, the Lions’ front office is making a clear statement. They’re not treating these decisions as routine paperwork; they’re shaping their financial structure around the players most likely to define their next playoff stretch.