Lions to extend WR/PR Kalif Raymond

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 signing Raymond to 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 $1M. The team then re-signed him in March 2022, authorizing a two-year, $5M 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 wideout 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 role as a regular on offense. He totaled a career-best 616 receiving yards. 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.

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 led the NFL. The Lions will reward him as such.