'Plans haven't changed' on extensions for Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch

ALLEN PARK — At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said he wanted to keep all four remaining members of the team's 2023 draft class — Brian Branch, Jack Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta — "around for a long time." About six months later, Holmes is halfway done, negotiating extensions with Campbell ($81 million over four years) and Gibbs ($67.5 million over three years). Campbell's deal made him the second-highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the league, behind San Francisco's Fred Warner. Gibbs, by signing his pact, became the highest-paid running back in NFL history. What's the latest on Branch and LaPorta, and is anything different between now and February? "We still want to keep those guys around, those plans haven't changed," Holmes said Wednesday, Sept. 2. "There's a couple factors that we've still go to sort through. But in terms of us wanting those guys around? Absolutely. Hopefully, we can get that done." Both Branch (Achilles) and LaPorta (back) are coming off of season-ending injuries in 2025, with Branch getting hurt against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4 and LaPorta going down in a win over the Washington Commanders on Nov. 9. LaPorta is back at practice and has been since the start of training camp, only briefly missing time with a hip injury in August. Branch is starting the season on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, sidelining him for at least the first four games of 2026. Branch can return to practice Sept. 18, one day after the Lions play the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. More: Lions 'still have confidence' Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch will return The top of the safety market, in terms of average annual value, is at $25.2 million, set by Los Angeles Chargers star Derwin James. George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is the NFL's highest-paid tight end, earning an average of $19.1 million per year. Reflecting on the Gibbs extension, Holmes said it was a "unique" process because both Gibbs and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson were simultaneously pushing for new deals. Robinson agreed to a three-year, $66.75 million extension on Aug. 4. Gibbs and the Lions reached an agreement two days later. "All of them are unique, especially when it gets up to that magnitude from a financial standpoint. It was just unique that both of those guys were kind of happening at the same time," Holmes said. "It was just more of kind of being patient. Like, we already knew we wanted to do. We just had to see who was going to get done first, and you've got to kind of adjust and pivot off of that." Holmes has signed nine of his draft picks to multi-year extensions since taking over in 2021. Coupled with Jared Goff's $212 million extension signed after the 2023 season, the Lions have committed more than $1 billion in total contract value toward extending their core pieces, a group that includes Campbell, Gibbs, Goff, Derrick Barnes, Kerby Joseph, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. rsilva@detroitnews.com @rich_silva18 This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 'Plans haven't changed' on extensions for Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch