Lions Extend DE Aidan Hutchinson
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 now official, per a team announcement.
The deal is worth $180MM in total ($45MM AAV), according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making Hutchinson the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL behind Micah Parsons. Hutchinson’s $141MM total guarantee is the most of any non-quarterback in league history.
[RELATED: Details On Lions’ Big-Ticket Extension]
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.
Holmes 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 led the NFL with 62 QB pressures in 2023 — 12 more than anyone else — has 34.5 career sacks. He still managed to lead the Lions with 7.5 sacks despite only finishing four games in 2024. The standout edge rusher is already at six this season, having forced four fumbles in Detroit’s first seven games.
Although the Lions being upset in the divisional round — due largely to an injury-battered defense — prevented a scenario in which Hutchinson returned for a potential Super Bowl berth, he has proven this season he is fully recovered from the broken leg. Though, he received clearance several months ago. Showing pre-injury form in games moved him into position for serious negotiations — which had been rumored here for a while.
As of early August, however, no substantive Hutchinson talks had started. It then became clear, despite the Parsons blockbuster, no deal would be agreed to before Week 1. But word emerged by October both camps were agreeable regarding a potential in-season extension. A year after the Lions paid fellow pass rusher Alim McNeill in-season, they are betting big on Hutchinson.
That gives Detroit some important cost certainty, though the team’s extension count is rising. That doubles as a good problem for Holmes and Co., as the roster was short on extension candidates when this regime arrived four-plus years ago. More work will lie ahead for Holmes, who has 2023 draftees Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch becoming extension-eligible in 2026. Of those players, only Gibbs can be retained via a fifth-year option.
Hutchinson entered today in the fourth year of his rookie contract. Because the Lions picked up his $19.9MM option for 2026 earlier this year, this new deal will tie him to Detroit though 2030.
Jets To Deal CB Michael Carter II To Eagles
One of the Jets’ long-rumored trade candidates, Michael Carter II is indeed on the move. The team is sending the veteran slot cornerback to the Eagles, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
Carter and a 2027 seventh-round pick are going to the Eagles in exchange for a 2027 sixth and wide receiver John Metchie, per Russini. Philadelphia had acquired Metchie in a summer trade with Houston.
[RELATED: DT Quinnen Williams Drawing Trade Interest]
This move will reunite Carter with the GM who extended him last summer. Since-fired Jets front office boss Joe Douglas is back with the Eagles, having been hired this offseason. Douglas hammered out a three-year, $30.75MM extension for Carter just before last season. (At the time, those terms made Carter the NFL’s highest-paid pure slot.)
The Jets came into Wednesday with three eight-figure-per-year CB contracts. That number drops to two (Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens) after this deal, and it gives Carter a second chance after he had fallen out of favor under Aaron Glenn.
Seeking a change of scenery after his Jets standing changed, Carter agreed to rework his contract to facilitate a trade to Philly. He agreed to remove a $5MM injury guarantee for 2026, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds. Carter is now due a largely nonguaranteed $9.7MM in 2026, as $1.38MM of that total is fully guaranteed. The contract runs through 2027.
This will give the Eagles more flexibility, as they are acquiring a slot corner despite rostering Cooper DeJean. Issues finding a boundary complement to Quinyon Mitchell, however, have DeJean playing outside far more often this season. That looks set to continue, with the Eagles likely eyeing a Mitchell-DeJean-Carter trio after their Week 9 bye.
Vic Fangio said recently (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) the team has discussed moving DeJean outside. Neither Adoree’ Jackson nor Kelee Ringo has proven a reliable option opposite Mitchell, and the 2024 rookie CB duo may be how the defending Super Bowl champs resolve this matter for the time being. In Carter, the Eagles will be acquiring a proven slot presence — at least, that was the case during most of Douglas’ GM tenure. The Jets, signing Stephens and extending Gardner at a record rate, had been dangling Carter in deals before the November 4 deadline.
Douglas drafted two Michael Carters in 2021. While the Jets moved on from the running back (now a Cardinal) earlier, they extended the corner — a fifth-round pick — in a deal that pointed D.J. Reed out of New York. But injuries limited Carter in 2024; the 2025 Jets regime change affected his long-term standing with the franchise. The Jets’ September Jarvis Brownlee trade impacted this equation as well.
A herniated disk in Carter’s back accompanied an ankle injury last year, and his snap share declined to a career-low 32% during Jeff Ulbrich‘s interim HC stretch. Carter had logged between 64 and 74% of New York’s defensive snaps from 2021-23, solidifying himself as an extension candidate. Missing three games this season, he played 45% of the Jets’ defensive snaps. That stint under Glenn and Steve Wilks did not go well; Pro Football Focus ranks Carter as the NFL’s third-worst CB regular this season. Per Pro-Football-Reference, he has been charged with a whopping 19.5 yards per completion and a 109.7 passer rating as the closest defender.
PFF graded Carter as a top-20 option in 2022 and ’23, as he excelled alongside Gardner in Robert Saleh‘s scheme. The Eagles will bet on this buy-low move boosting their defense and restoring the 26-year-old corner closer to that early-2020s form. PFF has Jackson slotted barely above Carter this season, ranking him among the 10 worst CB regulars, while placing Ringo outside the top 60 at the position. While DeJean may project as a slot player long term, the Eagles will try to get by with the standout cover man outside this year.
DeJean logged only seven boundary CB snaps in 2024; the Iowa alum is already at 103 this season. Fangio had a complex plan for DeJean this offseason, lining him up at safety and outside corner. For now, DeJean will be likely to give it a go at a position he was not drafted to play. It will be interesting to see what the Eagles’ DeJean plan is coming out of this season, as the Super Bowl hero enjoyed a strong rookie year as a slot stopper.
Despite being extended last year, Carter is on a manageable $1.7MM base salary this season. The Eagles will be responsible for barely half that, though the Jets could only secure a 2027 sixth and a now-twice-trade receiver in this deal. Metchie will join a team with a much worse receiving situation.
The Jets have played without Garrett Wilson due to injury recently and placed Josh Reynolds on IR before Week 8. Being traded from Houston to Philly before the season, Metchie has caught just four passes for 18 yards. The former second-round pick, who missed his rookie season due to a leukemia battle, should have a chance to play more with the Jets.
Metchie caught 24 passes for 254 yards as a Texans backup in 2024 and is in a contract year. The Jets have Allen Lazard stationed as a trade candidate, as the 1-7 team will need to consider other moves to recoup draft capital before the deadline. Excluding pick-for-pick deals, this is the Eagles’ 10th trade in 2025. More moves could be coming for the NFC power, as six days remain until this year’s trade endpoint.
A.J. Brown Expected To Return After Bye; Eagles Listening To Trade Offers
Wide receiver A.J. Brown is expected to return from his hamstring injury after the Eagles’ Week 9 bye, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Though, drama still engulfs the veteran wide receiver beyond this injury — one that caused the star receiver to miss Philly’s Week 8 tilt against New York.
Trade rumors have followed the three-time Pro Bowler since his slow start to the year and perceived personal problems in the locker room. Multiple teams are “eyeing” Brown ahead of next week’s trade deadline, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and the Eagles are willing to listen to offers. Schefter notes that the veteran wideout is not expected to be dealt but acknowledges that he is not completely untouchable.
Reading between the lines, it seems like the Eagles are testing the waters to see if they can get a sizable return for Brown, perhaps similar to the draft capital they sent to the Titans to acquire him in 2022. That is the theory posited by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who characterized Schefter’s report as a way for the Eagles to quietly solicit offers around the league. The most recent Brown report did indicate the Eagles are informing teams he is unavailable, but the defending Super Bowl champions are not exactly timid when it comes to trade talks.
Florio also mentioned the potential of a reunion between Brown and Mike Vrabel, his head coach in Tennessee who now holds the same job in New England. Vrabel did not want to let Brown leave the Titans in 2022, as captured during an awkward piece of mid-draft footage captured following the Round 1 swap. This helped put him at odds with team ownership and contributed to his eventual firing.
Indeed, the Eagles may not be actively shopping Brown around the league, but they may be open to the idea, if not in favor of it outright. Obviously, adding significant draft capital would be a boon for an Eagles front office that has hit on quite a few picks in recent years. A trade would also get Brown’s contract off the books and create more financial flexibility for future extensions.
Those benefits might outweigh what Brown brings to the Eagles offense right now. DeVonta Smith has been decidedly more productive this year, and Philadelphia’s run-heavy offense makes it difficult to consistently feed two top wideouts. But Brown has been heating up after his slow start in the first four games of the year.
Brown made six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, but in the other three matchups to open the year, he only recorded eight receptions and 42 yards. In October, however, Brown has gathered strength, culminating in a four-catch, 121-yard, two-touchdown outing in Week 7 against the Vikings.
Now, the Eagles might be in an interesting spot. Brown’s immediate value is skyrocketing right before the deadline, which could get them an appealing return in a trade. However, it would seem unwise for a team coming off a Super Bowl win with similar aspirations to return this year to deal such a talented wideout midseason, especially without much proven receiving depth on the roster. If anything, the current Brown trade talk feels like a precursor to a much more active market – both for Brown and other wide receivers – next offseason.
Saints OL Cesar Ruiz Could Be Available For “Right Price”
While the likes of Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave appear to be sticking in New Orleans, it sounds like wideouts Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks could be had in a trade. We can now add another Saints offensive player to the list of trade targets.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, rival teams are “under the impression” that offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz could be available for “the right price.” Fowler notes that “change feels inevitable” this upcoming offseason in New Orleans, and the front office may look to get a jump start by dealing veterans.
Ruiz has spent his entire career with the Saints, as the lineman was selected by the organization in the first round of the 2020 draft. After bouncing in and out of the starting lineup as a rookie and alternating between positions as a sophomore, Ruiz has settled in as the team’s starting right guard in recent years. He’s started all 37 of his appearances for the organization since 2021, and he’s gotten into at least 90 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in those contests.
Pro Football Focus has never been particularly fond of the player’s performance, as the site has generally ranked him in the bottom half of his position. He had his best showing in 2024, when PFF ranked him 25th among 77 qualifying guards. He’s back down to 56th in 2025, although the site has given him credit for his pass-blocking ability.
Ruiz still has two years remaining on the four-year, $44MM extension he signed with the organization back in 2023. While he has an out in his contract following the current campaign, the $16.8MM in dead money means he’s not a realistic rental. The Saints would presumably consider this in any trade talks, so teams may not be able to snag him for a late-round pick.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return from IR: DT Perrion Winfrey
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: FB Jakob Johnson
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: RB Terrell Jennings
New York Giants
- Designated for return from IR: CB Rico Payton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Opened practice window: DB Cory Trice
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: OL Drew Moss
Seattle Seahawks
- Opened practice window: G Christian Haynes
Winfrey, Johnson and Payton have each started their 21-day activation periods. Bringing them back into the fold will use up one of their respective teams’ eight IR activations. By contrast, Trice and Haynes were given the designated for return label during roster cuts in August. As a result, their activations have already been accounted for.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/25
Here are today’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from practice squad IR: WR Gabe Davis
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DE Jonathan Garvin, OL Royce Newman
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Sam Ehlinger
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Dante Barnett, CB Tyron Herring
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Dalton Keene
- Released: RB Jawhar Jordan
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB D’Ernest Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Evan Hull
- Released: DT Coziah Izzard
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OL Jack Driscoll, WR John Rhys Plumlee
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: KR Velus Jones
- Released: RB Myles Gaskin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
Falcons LB Arnold Ebiketie Generating Trade Interest
For teams seeking some under-the-radar help on the edge, Atlanta could have an answer to their needs. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler passed along today that Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie is generating trade interest.
In fact, the former second-round pick has been a trade target since the preseason, although the Falcons haven’t shown any desire to trade him up to this point. Fowler notes that Atlanta’s front office will listen to offers on any players, leading the reporter to believe Ebiketie could be had for the right price.
Ebiketie appeared to be a foundational piece as recently as last season. The Penn State product collected 12 sacks between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and he added another 24 QB hits and nine tackles for loss over that span. Pro Football Focus graded him 46th among 119 qualifying edge defenders for his performance last season.
As the Falcons prioritized youth on defense in 2025, Ebiketie has seen a lesser role behind the likes of James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker. Ebiketie has yet to record a sack this season while compiling 21 stops. PFF currently ranks him 52nd among 119 qualifiers, with his score being partially propped up by his coverage grade.
The 26-year-old is set to hit free agency following the season, so even if the Falcons do intend to keep him around for a second contract, a trade partner probably wouldn’t be required to give up a haul for the pass rusher. For teams that are unable to pry away some of the more popular pass-rush names on the market, Ebiketie may end up being a logical fallback option.
Saints To Start QB Tyler Shough Through Remainder Of Season
The Saints turned to Tyler Shough for the second half of their Week 8 game and it was clear in the wake of that move a permanent switch at quarterback could be in store. Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed it will be the second-round rookie atop the depth chart for New Orleans’ next game. 
Moore has stated in recent days he does not anticipate switching between Shough and Spencer Rattler on a week-to-week basis through the second half of the campaign. As such, it came as no surprise when he said today this QB change will apply for the remainder of the season (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The coming weeks will thus serve as an evaluation period for Shough.
The seven-year college QB has made two appearances off the bench so far in his rookie campaign, but Week 9 will mark the first point at which he handles first-team reps in preparation for a game. That setup will continue moving forward as Moore and the Saints contemplate their long-term options under center. New Orleans is on track for a high selection in the first round of the 2026 draft, something which will further fuel long-running speculation about a franchise passer being taken in April.
“All we’re trying to do is put ourselves in the best position to be successful on Sunday against L.A.,” Moore said (via Schefter’s colleague Katherine Terrell) when speaking about the decision to bench Rattler on a permanent basis. “I think the really important aspect is starters need to get every rep they can. You don’t get into this whole weekly competition area or any of that stuff.”
The Saints have games against the Rams and Panthers upcoming until their bye week. It will be interesting to see how Shough fares with a banged-up offensive line in front of him and a pass-catching group which may be thinned out by the trade deadline. Four of New Orleans’ six games following the bye will be on the road, so Shough’s audition period will feature a number of challenges.
Interestingly, Moore noted he did not give thought to making a quarterback change midway through a game prior to Week 8. Rattler flashed potential during periods of his time atop the depth chart, but attention will now turn to Shough’s performances in the same role.
Jets Willing To Listen To Offers For Quinnen Williams
The Jets have already dealt one veteran defender, and the team may not be done. According to Jordan Schultz, the Jets are willing to listen to offers on star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
[RELATED: Jets To Deal CB Michael Carter II To Eagles]
The former third-overall pick is arguably the Jets best player and is signed through the 2027 campaign, so the front office is naturally resistant to potential deals. However, Schultz notes that there’s a league-wide need for interior defensive line help, and considering the aggressiveness of some GMs around the NFL, “the idea of a team blowing away the Jets with an offer is at least feasible.”
Williams truly established himself as one of the league’s best defensive tackles in 2022, when he collected 12 sacks en route to a first-team All-Pro nod. The Jets were quick to reward the player for his performance, as the DT inked a four-year, $96MM extension the following offseason.
While the Jets disappointed in both 2023 and 2024, Williams was one of the team’s few bright spots. He added another 11.5 sacks to his resume between those two campaigns, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the third-best interior defender in 2023 before placing him 30th in 2024. The site is once again bullish on his talents in 2025, ranking him eighth among 128 qualifiers. In eight starts this season, the 27-year-old has collected one sack, seven tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles.
The team doesn’t have much of a backup plan for their star player. The team acquired veteran Harrison Phillips back in August, but the 29-year-old appears to be a temporary stopgap. The team is otherwise rostering Jay Tufele, Jowon Briggs, and Byron Cowart, who will miss the entire 2025 campaign with an ankle injury.
We heard previously that Williams was drawing interest, with the expectation being that it would require a haul to acquire the defensive tackle. The Cowboys reportedly discussed a Micah Parsons package that involved Williams before they shipped the defensive star to Green Bay.
Latest On Aidan Hutchinson’s Extension
Aidan Hutchinson‘s extension with the Lions set a handful of new benchmarks, including $141MM in guaranteed money that set the record for a non-QB. We’re now getting more details on the pact thanks to SI’s Albert Breer (via Patrick Andres of SI.com).
[RELATED: Lions Extend DE Aidan Hutchinson]
The four-year extension features $180MM in new money. The star pass rusher will earn $45.9MM between 2025 and 2026, all fully guaranteed. This total includes $25MM in new money. Hutchinson will later be owed $29.55MM in 2027, $29.55MM in 2028, $49.5MM in 2029, and $42MM in 2030.
Of the new money, $15MM will be paid via a signing bonus, while another $28.4MM will be due via an option bonus this March. $55.7MM is fully guaranteed at signing.
Much of the money is guaranteed for injury. Beyond that, Hutchinson is attached to $10MM fully guaranteed in 2027 (the rest becomes fully guaranteed in March of 2026), $29.55MM in 2028 (which vests in March of 2027), and $35.42MM in 2029 ($29MM vests in March of 2028, with the rest vesting in March of 2029). None of his $42MM in 2030 is guaranteed.
Hutchinson is also due a handful of bonuses. This includes $250K workout bonuses each offseason during the lifetime of the deal. He also has $200K in per-game bonuses each season.
These are hefty commitments that the Lions front office will now have to navigate, and the extension will surely influence their approach to future offseasons. However, this new deal isn’t expected to impact their trade deadline strategy. Dianna Russini of The Athletic says the team’s deadline plans haven’t changed, as the Lions are still seeking a cornerback and pass rusher.