AUGUST 15: The veteran receiver/returner agreed to terms on a two-year, $10.5MM deal that comes with $8.15MM fully guaranteed. The Lions created $1.3MM in cap space via this extension, per OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald (on Twitter). Detroit used a 2026 void year to spread out Raymond’s cap hits. Raymond can earn up to $14MM on the deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, noting incentives tied to receptions, receiving yards and Pro Bowl acclaim are in place. Raymond’s 2023 and ’24 salaries are guaranteed, with Wilson adding $1.4MM of his $4.35MM 2025 base is locked in at signing.
AUGUST 11: Kalif Raymond has made important contributions in his two seasons with the Lions, and the team will keep the veteran receiver/returner on another contract.
The Lions are extending Raymond on a two-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes, adding that the contract is expected to make the team’s top punt returner one of the highest-paid return men in the game (Twitter link). Raymond, 29, is going into his third season with the Lions; this extension will keep him tied to the team through 2025.
A former UDFA out of Holy Cross, Raymond has done well to carve out a role in Detroit. The former Broncos, Giants, Jets and Titans wideout/returner has worked as the Lions’ primary punt returner in his two Motor City seasons, doing so while making under-the-radar contributions at receiver as well. Raymond has combined for 1,192 receiving yards with Detroit.
This marks Raymond’s third Lions contract. He initially came over during GM Brad Holmes‘ first offseason, signing for one year and barely $1MM. The team then re-signed him in March 2022, authorizing a two-year, $5MM deal. After Raymond has proven a fit with the team, he will undoubtedly be rewarded with a raise.
Prior to his 2021 Detroit arrival, Raymond had never topped 200 receiving yards in a season. A Lions team that was starting over at receiver in 2021 put the 5-foot-8 cog to work. Raymond finished that season with 48 receptions for 576 yards and four touchdowns. With Jameson Williams debuting late in the season (and not playing a big role upon doing so) and DJ Chark missing more time due to injury, Raymond kept his spot as a regular on offense. He totaled a career-best 616 receiving yards in 2022. With Williams banned six games for betting on non-NFL games while on team grounds, Raymond should be in position to keep his gig as an auxiliary receiver to start the year.
Once Williams rejoins a receiving corps including Amon-Ra St. Brown and the reacquired Marvin Jones, it is possible Raymond’s receiving workload will be scaled back. But he still is set to be Detroit’s main punt returner. Raymond notched a punt-return touchdown last year, helping the Lions to a three-point win over the Jets, and finished with a career-high 13.1 yards per return. While Raymond did not have enough returns to qualify, that 13.1-yard average would have been among the NFL’s best marks. The Lions will reward him as such.
Under the radar player that plays well when called upon. Glad Detroit is keeping him in the building.
I agree, but it seems like a lot of money for a role player.
It is a lot of money, but to me it shows that Detroit is committed to keeping quality players on the squad. It would be easy to assign a rookie to punt returns and move on from Raymond, but they are building something special in Detroit and they want to have the right guy at every position.
They’ve been building something special in Detroit since 1958…lol. Committed to keeping quality players on the squad? Might want to ask Darius Slay about that.
I have watched the Lions and joke they have been for years. I think the last two years have been a turning point in the organization and I am excited to see what they do this season. Darius Slay is doing fine, it would have been great to keep him in Detroit, but it is what it is.
I’m not buying into the optimism about the Lions. I think the entire NFC North will be exposed as a trash division this year. Some really horrible defenses on display in that division.
I buy the hype in Detroit because it is very possible for them to be the top team in the NFC North or worse case the 2nd best team in their division and grabbing a wild card spot. If Detroit was in the AFC I would be worried but they have a better chance to make the playoffs then the Bills. The Bills are a good team but that division and the conference are brutal.
Yes, the defenses of the NFC North are bad but the Lions have a very good offense and they can capitalize on their division rivals lackluster D-lines. I do not think the Lions have the defense to beat the Eagles or the 49ers in the playoffs but their offense is going to put up big numbers this year and they can make a playoff run if the team stays healthy.
Under the radar information from this post:
The Lions defense forced so few punts in 2022 that their full-time, healthy all season returner didn’t have enough Punt Returns to make the official stat leaderboard
OK, not problem with Raymond, but thought there might be higher priority extensions. On the O-Line perhaps.