The Lions are signing edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a four-year contract extension, as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and confirmed by Hutchinson’s agent, Mike McCartney.
The deal is worth $180MM in total ($45MM APY), according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making Hutchinson the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL behind Micah Parsons. Hutchinson’s $141MM in total guaranteed money is the most of any non-quarterback in league history.
There is little doubt that Hutchinson is worth such a massive extension. The 2022 No. 2 pick burst onto the scene with 9.5 sacks and a second-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He took a second-year leap with 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss and appeared to be the leading Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2024 with 7.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in his first five games before a season-ending leg fracture.
Upon returning to the field this year, the 25-year-old picked up right where he left off. Hutchinson has six sacks and six tackles for loss in his first seven games with a league-high four forced fumbles, making it clear that his injury has not affected his game in the slightest. That was probably all the Lions needed to confirm before signing him to the second-largest contract in franchise history.
Hutchinson’s extension is only the latest investment that Detroit has made in their roster. Since April 2024, they have doled out $968.5MM in contract extensions to nine core players, including Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Almost all of those players were acquired by general manager Brad Holmes after he was hired in 2021. He traded for Goff and drafted Sewell and St. Brown that offseason, but the Lions still finished last in the NFC North for the fourth season in a row. That put Detroit in position to draft Hutchinson, a Michigan native and former Wolverine, a moment that marked a clear turning point for the franchise. Since then, they have gone 41-17 and won the division in two of the last three seasons.
While Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have patiently, carefully built the Lions into a perennial championship contender, Hutchinson’s ascendance into one of the best defenders in the league has given them a game-wrecking element that no amount of coaching or front office maneuvering can develop. He is virtually unblockable in 1-on-1 matchups and has developed an excellent feel for punching the ball out to force momentum-shifting turnovers.
Hutchinson is in the fourth year of his rookie contract. The Lions picked up his $19.9MM fifth-year option for 2026 earlier this year, so his new deal will keep him in Detroit though 2030.
nice.
Jerry Jones, this is how you handle keeping key members of your team. Re-sign/extend George Pickens.
Pickens is playing well but Dallas needs to wait. He needs to show for the entire season that he can stay dependable without the emotional/maturity issues. So far, so good.
If he does one of a few things will happen.
He will get tagged to ensure he stays on the team and likely get pissed and cause issue.
His price tag will go up because the cowboys will be bidding against other teams who need a #1.
I doubt Pickens causes problems going forward. His QBs were pretty bad in Pittsburgh and I can understand the frustration. And his issues were rather minor when compared to other teams’ major headaches. He’s thriving with better QB play.
If he does get tagged, he’s gonna go from making $3MM to approx $28MM next year (with free agency after that). He’s not going to be that upset.
Jerry’s philosophy is to hold off until he has to pay a premium price for the contract. Big money guy.
imo, Dallas would probably be better off spending money on defense vs extending Pickens. They’re always a top offense when Dak is healthy. Defense, not so much.
I have to disagree. When the Cowboys have just one legit WR, good defenses can shut them down. This offense is much harder to stop with two top WRs, a quality RB, and an above average TE.
They have four first round draft choices in the next two drafts. Go heavy on defense on day one and day two of both drafts and let the offense carry the team until they mature/get healthy on defense.
Still baffles me how Jacksonville thought Walker was the better NFL prospect.
Anyone who had a television or radio or phone knew that Hutch was the best player in this draft.
Worth EVERY penny of it. Congrats Lions fans.
Agreed. Also still baffles me that Jacksonville kept employing Trent Baalke for almost three years after that.
I mean, it isn’t like Walker is a bim either.
Not as good as Hutch, and that is a given but back to back 10 sack seasons is a pretty good level of return.
Macbeth,
I’m not going to lie, with the way Hutch was able to perform his rookie contract, Walker’s stats were not even discussed or came across my mind lol. People forget that Walkerwas the 1st pick at times because Hutch went 2nd. Not saying Walker is a bad return/player, but man Hutch was a once every half decade or so type edge rusher. It’s pretty cool that he gets to play in his state for the majority of his life, including college.
Walker is a very solid player, but Hutchinson is much better and was a much better prospect.
Wow…why don’t you and raz get a room……and don’t forget to invite Hutch…..
Why are you making it sexual that two football fans share a common sense football take?
It’s always weirdos like him lol. I just enjoy watching star players be star players and get paid like star players with the teams that drafted them.
Locked in that total guarantee bag is win/win for both sides
Once Gibbs gets extended it will take some serious cap gymnastics to maintain this but good for them!
It will already take incredible cap gymnastics for 2026. First up a Goff re-structure. Then some difficult cuts.
Hilarious. They same people who absolutely destroyed the Packers for signing Parsons to this type of contract have the completely opposite reaction to this signing.
Packers envy is VERY real.