As the NFL Draft approaches, Detroit Lions president Rod Wood made it clear that star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is part of the team’s long-term vision — even if he’s not ready to reveal contract details just yet.
Speaking at a Detroit Economic Club event on Monday, Wood declined to elaborate on whether Hutchinson might be the next player to receive an extension but offered reassurance about the young defender’s future with the team.
“No comment,” Wood said. “But he’s not going anywhere — we’re keeping him around for the long run.”
Detroit has made retaining its young talent a priority over the past year. Quarterback Jared Goff, along with 2021 draftees Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Alim McNeill, all signed new deals in 2023. Linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike — also from the 2021 class — were brought back in free agency this offseason.
Sewell and St. Brown’s extensions were finalized just one day before last year’s draft in Detroit.
General manager Brad Holmes has already identified Hutchinson and safety Kerby Joseph, both selected in 2022, as top priorities for new deals. He acknowledged earlier this spring that future negotiations with them — and eventually players from the highly-regarded 2023 draft class — shaped how the team navigated free agency. The Lions only gave out one multi-year contract during the offseason, landing veteran cornerback D.J. Reed to fill the void left by Carlton Davis.
According to Wood, the Lions did attempt to retain Davis before shifting to Reed. He emphasized that the front office remains committed to keeping Hutchinson and Joseph as core parts of the team’s foundation.
Despite Hutchinson missing 12 games last year due to a leg injury, he still led the team with 7.5 sacks. Joseph, meanwhile, topped the NFL with nine interceptions.
“We’ll be getting to work on that [Hutchinson’s deal],” Wood said. “Our track record speaks for itself — Sewell, St. Brown, McNeill — we’ve made it clear we want to reward our own guys. Hutchinson is absolutely on deck.”
He also acknowledged that while managing second contracts can be tough after benefitting from rookie deals, the front office has been planning for this scenario for years.
“It’s part of the process,” Wood said. “We’ve built a strong base. Now it’s about sustaining it and continuing to build through this year’s draft.”
After a remarkable 15-2 season that ended in a surprise playoff loss to Washington, Detroit holds the 28th pick heading into Thursday’s first round in Green Bay.
Wood also expressed confidence that Detroit will have another shot at hosting the NFL Draft soon. Last year’s event in the city drew a record-breaking crowd of around 750,000 fans. He joked that Green Bay — last in the NFC North in 2023 — may not draw the same energy.
“I’ve told Roger [Goodell], I’m not sure how you top what we did,” Wood said. “It’ll be a few years, sure — Pittsburgh’s up next, and other cities are in the mix — but when the league looks back our way, I think we’ll be ready.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL schedule, Wood anticipates the Lions will be featured in the maximum number of primetime games allowed — six — with a chance to be flexed into more later in the season.
“If you’re a fan of Sunday 1 p.m. games, brace yourself,” he said. “We’re going to be a regular on national broadcasts. We were the top team on every major network last year — TV loves our team, our stars, and our coach. Expect us under the lights often.”
