Lions make Amon-Ra St. Brown the NFL's highest-paid receiver

Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Lions extension makes Amon-Ra St. Brown the NFL's highest-paid receiver

By Paul Harris | Last updated 4/24/24

It is fitting that the Detroit Lions and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown agreed to a contract extension on the eve of the NFL Draft, which will be held in downtown Detroit – less than half hour walk from his home office, Ford Field.

St. Brown was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft with the 112th pick. He was only the 17th wide receiver taken and was so upset about it that he has memorized the name and ongoing stats of the 16 drafted before him.

Well, in one important statistic St. Brown is now ahead of those 16 and every other wideout in the league.

Sources: The #Lions have a deal for one of the top young talents, agreeing on an extension for WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. He gets 4 years and more than $120M with $77M guaranteed.

The deal done by @JobyBranion of @VanguardSG makes St. Brown the highest-paid WR in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/EIoBNU6jJw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2024

His legendary work ethic has produced a four-year extension reportedly worth more than $120 million, including $77 million guaranteed. It makes St. Brown the highest-paid wide receiver in average annual salary at over $30 million, which surpasses Tyreek Hill. The guaranteed $77 million is also the highest guaranteed amount among wide receivers – more than Cooper Kupp's $75 million, which had been the standard.

St. Brown's rookie contract had been scheduled to pay him $3.366 million in 2024, the fourth season of the deal.

The former USC standout has posted 315 catches for 3,588 yards and 21 touchdowns across his first three NFL seasons. Each of those totals has risen each season from the previous one. St. Brown was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and was a first-team AP All-Pro pick last season, when he caught 119 passes for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was third in the NFL in catches and yards and tied for fourth in touchdowns during the past campaign. St. Brown was also third in first downs, moving the sticks 75 times.

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