The Detroit Lions and Aidan Hutchinson are currently in the early stages of discussions regarding a potential contract extension. As a result of his impressive performance since being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson is now eligible for an extension. Had it not been for a broken leg that sidelined him in Week 6 of the previous season, Hutchinson could have contended for Defensive Player of the Year, after recording 7.5 sacks in fewer than five full games.
Now entering the third season of his career, Hutchinson can either have the Lions pick up his fifth-year option by May 1, or potentially reach a longer-term deal as part of the ongoing extension talks. Although Hutchinson is still recovering from the injury, he is expected to be ready for the offseason program.
The Lions have taken proactive steps in locking down key players to long-term contracts, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff, and Alim McNeill. Hutchinson is poised to be one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the league, if not the highest.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Lions GM Brad Holmes commented on the team’s strategy, noting that signing another top-tier edge rusher would be financially difficult this offseason. Holmes emphasized that acquiring a star pass rusher is no simple task, particularly when considering the financial strain involved. He pointed out that losing a star rusher doesn’t necessarily open the door for another team to offer one up, as those players are valuable assets for their respective teams.
Holmes also mentioned that the Lions are already in the process of planning Hutchinson’s contract extension, though details on the exact steps are still unclear. This suggests that the team is focused on securing Hutchinson’s future in Detroit as they navigate their financial options.
