Savvy drafting over the last few years has set the Detroit Lions up to reward a lot of "their own", and in general they've wasted no time getting that second-contract business done (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff, Alim McNeill, Kerby Joseph).
Next up for a rich contract extension is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The broken leg he suffered last October necessarily added nuance (and complication) to ongoing contract talks, as he moved toward being fully cleared medically.
Hutchinson was fully cleared in time for OTAs late last month, and with that NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported contract talks between he and the Lions would likely ramp up.
"It does seem like, while there have been some talks and discussions, it seems like the Lions' move to pay him was waiting until he got fully cleared," Rapoport said on the May 22 edition of The Insiders. "Now he is. So now they can really kickstart the conversations, really have those discussions about making him one of the highest-paid edge-rushers in the NFL."
Hutchinson will become one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the league, if not the highest-paid edge rusher by annual average, when his deal is done. The current top of that market is $40 million per year (Myles Garrett), with looming deals for T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons set to exceed it.
Predicted timeline for Aidan Hutchinson extension goes against Lions' grain
Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac has taken a look at several candidates for a contract extension this summer, with a prediction for how a resolution plays out. Hutchinson of course among the four edge rushers mentioned
"A Week 6 leg injury derailed Hutchinson’s 2024 season and placed a temporary roadblock in front of his extension window, but it does little to diminish just how as advertised he’s been through 2 ½ NFL seasons in Detroit. A deal in the $38-40M per year range, north of $100M guaranteed should be well within reach."
A top of the edge rusher market contract with the numbers Ginnitti laid out is a no-brainer for Hutchinson. When it happens still has some nuance to it though, with Hutchinson under contract for two more years after his fifth-year option was picked up.
Ginnitti's prediction hits that note.
Prediction: Lions table this extension until the 2026 offseason
By all accounts, Hutchinson will have no major lingering effects from his broken left tibia and fibula. But being cleared for non-contact OTA practices, and subsequently making it through training camp unscathed, is different that what he'll need to do when the season starts.
The Lions might want to see what that looks like before making a substantial commitment, even if it gets done during the season as Hutchinson rounds back into form.
Waiting to get a contract extension done with Hutchinson would go against what the Lions have done to secure the services of their core players for years to come.
