Where Detroit Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell salaries sits among tops at positions

The Detroit Lions locked up their two first-team All-Pro players for the long haul a day before the 2024 NFL draft begins.

All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year contract extension Wednesday, making him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in football. A little over two hours later, All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell signed the dotted line on a four-year extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history, according to reports.

Sewell, 23, and St. Brown, 24, were two of the first building blocks in the Lions' recent turnaround that culminated in the unprecedented success of the 2023 season, both excelling on the field and leading the teams as captains.

Sewell was the first pick for the new Lions' leadership in 2021 with the No. 7 overall pick in the same draft class as St. Brown. Sewell was one of the youngest players in the draft, not turning 21 until October of his rookie season, but had the pedigree of one of the top offensive lineman prospects in recent history. He has lived up to that reputation and then some as an NFL player, blossoming into one of the best offensive tackles in football and earning first-team All-Pro status at 23.

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St. Brown was one of the first gems found under the new regime led by coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. He emerged as the Lions' top target in the second half of his rookie season before becoming one of the best offensive players in football in 2022 and 2023. He earned All-Pro honors for the first time in 2023 after he finished with 119 catches, 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Sewell's deal is for four years worth $112 million with $85 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. Sewell will make $30 million annually in the first three years of the deal, the most ever for an offensive lineman in NFL history. St. Brown's deal is four years for more than $120 million, worth $28 million annually over the first three years, according to reports.

Here is an updated list of the five highest-paid wide receivers and offensive tackles in the NFL currently, based on average annual value, or AAV. All contract details come via Spotrac:

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Wide receiver

A note on wide receiver: All-Pros Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb are also in line for contract extensions. This list could change drastically soon.

1: Tyreek Hill

Total contract: 4 years, $120 million signed in March 2022.

AAV: $30 million.

Tyreek Hill received the biggest contract for a wide receiver in NFL history in terms of AAV after he was traded to the Miami Dolphins from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

T-2: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Total contract: 4 years, more than $120 million signed in April 2024.

AAV: $28 million for first three years, per reports.

St. Brown doesn't top the list in terms of overall dollars, but he's right up there in terms of the money he will receive each season. He did not have to go into the fourth year of his rookie deal to prove that he is a cornerstone of the Lions' rebuild and will now stick around for the long haul. CBS reported St. Brown will receive $28 million annually the first three seasons and "will pay 14M+ guaranteed for injury only in the third year of his extension (at the time of signing)".

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T-2: Davante Adams

Total contract: 5 years, $140 million signed in March 2022.

Average salary per year: $28 million.

Adams has the highest total money on a current wide receiver contract, but the fifth year brings his AAV to $28 million, in line with St. Brown on a deal he received after he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders from the Green Bay Packers.

4: Cooper Kupp

Total contract: 3 years, $80.1 million signed in June 2022.

Average salary per year: $26.7 million.

Kupp has been one of the best and most productive wide receivers in the NFL since 2017 for the Rams. He received his contract extension after winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 after helping the Rams to the Super Bowl.

5: Devonta Smith

Total contract: 3 years, $75 million signed in April 2024.

Average salary per year: $25 million.

Smith was the other big-name receiver to sign an extension this offseason, just beating out teammate A.J. Brown for fifth, which he received because he's topped 900 yards in each of his three NFL seasons, including 1,000 twice.

Offensive Lineman

1: Penei Sewell

Total contract: 4 years, $112 million signed in April 2024.

Average salary per year: $28 million.

In three seasons in Detroit, Sewell has been impenetrable on the right side of a dominant offensive line group that has kept Detroit's offense humming, especially for a ground game that ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards in 2023, while appearing in 50 of a possible 51 games. That's why he's at the top of his position at the bank now too.

2: Laremy Tunsil

Total contract: 3 years, $75 million signed in March 2023.

Average salary per year: $25 million.

Tunsil remains the highest-paid left tackle in football, patrolling the blindside for C.J. Stroud in Houston. Tunsil earned a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2023, his fourth overall.

3: Andrew Thomas

Total contract: 5 years, $117.5 million signed in July 2023.

Average salary per year: $23.5 million.

Thomas earned his big contract extension after he was named an All-Pro tackle in his third season (sound familiar?). He started in 10 games for the Giants in 2023 due to injury in a down year overall for New York.

4: Trent Williams

Total contract: 6 years, $138.06 million signed in March 2021.

Average salary per year: $23.01 million.

Williams has the most total money on his deal overall, but the length knocks down the amount per year. Williams has been great for San Francisco at left tackle, setting the tone for their strong outside zone running game.

5: Jordan Mailata

Total contract: 3 years, $66 million signed in April 2024.

Average salary per year: $22 million.

At the beginning of April, the Eagles locked down Mailata, a former seventh-round pick turned Pro Bowl left tackle, to a three-year extension worth $22 million annually.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions contracts: How Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell deal rank