This has been a life-changing year for Jonah Jackson, whose wife recently gave birth to their first child -- and whose baby carrier barely fits around his stomach, he said with a laugh. It could also be one that defines his career. Entering his contract season, Jackson is in line for a long-term extension with the Lions.
And Detroit is where the Pro Bowl offensive lineman wants to be.
"I'd love to retire a Lion," Jackson said Wednesday after the second day of minicamp. "I love this city. I have a great time here, enjoy everything about it from the sports, to the people, to the cuisine. There's nothing like it."
A third-round pick of Detroit's prior regime in 2020, Jackson has established himself as one of the better young guards in the NFL. And guards are getting paid. Falcons Pro Bowler Chris Lindstrom recently reset the market with a five-year, $102.5 million extension, topping the four-year, $80 million deal that Colts All-Pro Quenton Nelson signed prior to last season. Don't think Jackson hasn't noticed.
"Yeah, that's a pretty penny what (Lindstrom) got and a very deserving player. If it happens (for me), it happens," he said.
Asked if he and the Lions have opened talks, Jackson said, "Not exactly, but we'll see."
Jackson isn't on the level of Lindstrom and Nelson. Not yet, at least. But the 26-year-old made the Pro Bowl in 2021 as Detroit's lone representative and followed it up with another strong season last year. He's a road-grader in the run game, which has become the identity of the Lions' offense under Dan Campbell, and an improving pass blocker. He didn't allow a single sack last season in 13 starts at left guard.
Brad Holmes and the Lions don't have to rush on an extension. And it's no guarantee that Jackson will even get one. While Detroit has plenty of cap space at the moment, it also has big raises to hand out in the years ahead to the likes of Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and quite possibly quarterback Jared Goff. There's a chance that Jackson is simply left out by the math.
But it's in the Lions' best interests to keep him around. Good offensive lines are hard to assemble, and Jackson is a key cog on one of the NFL's best. One of Holmes' first major moves in Detroit was making Frank Ragnow the highest-paid center in the NFL, shortly after drafting Sewell seventh overall. The next logical investment up front would be in Jackson, especially with fellow guards Graham Glasgow and Halapoulivaati Vaitai likely gone next season.
The Packers were facing a similar situation at this time last year with guard Elgton Jenkins, a Day 2 draft pick who was a year removed from making the Pro Bowl as he entered his contract season. When Jenkins delivered another strong season, the Packers locked him up in December with a four-year, $68 million extension.
Whether that sort of payday awaits Jackson remains to be seen. The Lions will want to see him take his game to another level, and there's no reason to think he can't. With a little extra Dad Strength, Jackson said he's approaching this year "the same (way) I have the past three years: Just put my head down and go to work."
"If I do what I do," he said, "then everything else will fall in its place."
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