A previous standout player from the University of Tennessee Volunteers secures an extension to their contract in the NFL.
A contract extension was awarded to Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a former standout player for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, by the NFL, as reported on Monday. Reeves-Maybin, currently a linebacker and special teams standout for the Detroit Lions, played for Tennessee from 2013 to 2016. The extension spans two years and is valued at up to $8 million, making him the highest-paid core special teams player in NFL history, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Reeves-Maybin earned his first Pro Bowl selection this past season. In Detroit, he has established himself as a valuable asset, contributing primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker. Following a season with the Houston Texans in 2022, Reeves-Maybin returned to Detroit, where he had spent the first five years of his professional career.
The Lions clearly value Reeves-Maybin’s contributions, recognizing his significance after his brief absence with the Texans. This extension signifies their desire to retain him, illustrating the adage that sometimes one may not fully appreciate something until it is absent, and the Lions were determined not to let Reeves-Maybin slip away again.
