Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has gotten a hold of the Detroit Lions contract extension for outside linebacker DeAndre Levy.
At first glance, it seems the Detroit Lions got a bargin for the NFL’s second leading tackler in 2014.
Details on that 4-year extension for #Lions LB DeAndre Levy: Its worth $33.72M ($8.43M per year). $20M in guarantees.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2015
As Rapoport has reported, the Lions will be paying DeAndre Levy an average of $8.43 million dollars a year. This deal will make DeAndre Levy the second highest paid 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL based on average salary, trailing only Panthers OLB Thomas Davis who makes an average of $9.0 million a year.
The $20 million dollars guaranteed to Levy is the second highest amount of guaranteed money to a 4-3 outside backer as well, trailing only Von Miller of the Denver Broncos.
This deal could keep the studly linebacker in the Lions uniform until the end of the 2019 season, but we all know how the NFL works. Although the breakdown of guaranteed money hasn’t been released, the Lions likely can release Levy after the 2018 season without owing him another cent and after the 2017 season owing him very little.
One things for sure, the Detroit Lions will continue to have the services of a damn fine linebacker for several years to come.