In recent years, the Detroit Lions have set something of a precedent about getting extensions done right before the NFL Draft. Last year, it was Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. This year, it was Kerby Joseph.
It was one that was expected, but it wasn't the only one. Lions fans expected the Lions to sign edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to his huge extension, and it didn't happen. The Lions did make sure to exercise their fifth-year option on him. That doesn't mean the extension is out for him this year.
This had me wondering about Hutchinson's agent, what his extension schedule has looked like in the past. Perhaps that would give us an idea of when the deal could get done. I found some interesting stuff.
Hutchinson's agent is Mike McCartney with Vayner Sports. In the 2022 NFL Draft, he represented not just Hutchinson, but Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe.
All three players have been outstanding since coming into the league, and interestingly enough, none of them have signed an extension yet despite being expected to at some point.
The reason might be that McCartney has a history of getting these things done later. For example, McCartney also represents Alim McNeill. He didn't sign his extension until this October. Long after last offseason, when he was expected to get it.
I have another Lions one for you, sort of. T.J. Lang signed his extension with the Packers in August during training camp in 2012. Then there's Evan Engram. He got his extension with the Jaguars in July. Haloti Ngata got his five-year extension with the Ravens in June. Sean Lee signed his extension in August of 2013.
There were a couple of instances where his clients got signed to extensions ahead of the draft. Like Kirk Cousins and Arian Foster, both got their deals in March.
We're going to have to wait and see what happens with Hutchinson, but right now it looks like we might not see that big extension happen until later this summer or maybe into the season.
