Lions’ Contract Negotiations with Aidan Hutchinson Are More Complex Than Expected
While securing a long-term deal with Aidan Hutchinson has appeared straightforward, the reality is far more complicated than anyone anticipated.
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, the Detroit Lions are gearing up for more than just draft picks. The first major move came on Wednesday night when the Lions announced a record-breaking extension for safety Kerby Joseph. Next on the horizon is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. When asked about Hutchinson’s extension, Lions’ president Rod Wood initially refrained from commenting but later stated, “He will be here for the long haul, I can assure you of that. We’ll start working on that soon. We have a history of extending our own players, like we did with Sewell, St. Brown, and Alim McNeill. Hutchinson is likely to be next.”
Hutchinson, who was having a standout season in the running for Defensive Player of the Year before suffering a serious leg injury in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, has shown impressive progress in his recovery. A recent video of him running with no apparent limitations suggests he is nearly back to full health.
Why the Hutchinson Deal Won’t Be So Simple
The landscape for top edge rusher contracts has shifted dramatically, thanks to Myles Garrett’s four-year, $160 million extension ($40 million per year) with the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension ($35.5 million new money average). These deals have set a high bar for Hutchinson’s impending contract. Given Hutchinson is younger than both Garrett and Crosby, he may well position himself to become the NFL’s highest-paid edge rusher, assuming he fully recovers and returns to his pre-injury form.
The Lions are likely to exercise Hutchinson’s fifth-year option, worth approximately $20.86 million, by the May 1 deadline as a temporary placeholder while negotiations continue.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has pointed out the complexities in the negotiations. Hutchinson’s broken leg in the 2024 season introduces a layer of uncertainty, particularly for the Lions, who would assume the injury risk with a new contract. On the other hand, Hutchinson may not want to continue playing under his current contract, which only pays him $5.57 million in 2025, given the injury risk.
Despite this, Hutchinson is well within his rights to expect a second, more lucrative deal, which could secure his financial future. However, due to the injury, this generational wealth may be delayed. As Florio notes, the injury was a freak accident, but it still complicates the process.
Florio also suggests that the negotiations could test both the Lions’ approach to rewarding their key players as part of their rebuilding effort and Hutchinson’s commitment to his hometown team. If the deal doesn’t materialize, it could raise questions about Hutchinson’s long-term loyalty.
Ultimately, while it’s almost certain that Hutchinson and the Lions will come to terms on a deal making him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL, the negotiation process will not be as straightforward as many had hoped, particularly given the injury’s impact.
