Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson gave a diplomatic answer when asked if he expects the team to offer a contract extension.
The Detroit Lions haven't signed star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a contract extension yet.
Hutchinson, the team's first-round pick (No. 2 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, has developed into one of the league's most fearsome pass rushers and arguably the best player on the Lions' defense. He's also now eligible for a contract extension, one that could make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the league.
The fourth-year defender was asked about his contract situation after a joint practice with the Houston Texans on Thursday, Aug. 21, but he didn't give any indication on where he and the Lions stand.
"I've kind of been pretty hands-off with the process," he said at Lions headquarters in Allen Park. "I think the business side can take away from your love of the game a little bit. And that's kind of the reality of the NFL.
"I have a lot of people in my close circle that do deal with that, so my main focus is out here playing football, playing this game I love."
The Lions have handed out a few extensions to defensive stars recently, including safety Kerby Joseph (four years, $86 million) and defensive tackle Alim McNeil (four years, $97 million). But the Hutchinson deal is expected to be bigger than either of those, with Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby signing a three-year, $106.5 million contract on March 5 and the Cleveland Browns signing defensive end Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million contract four days after.
Should the Lions sign Hutchinson to a similar contract as Crosby or Garrett, it would likely make him the highest-paid player on the team. Currently, that titles belongs to quarterback Jared Goff, who carries a $32 million cap hit for 2025.
But if any player on the Lions is worth that money, it may be Hutchinson.
The star edge rusher has accumulated 28 ½ sacks over his three professional seasons, recording 11 ½ over 17 games in his 2023 Pro Bowl campaign. He led the Lions with 7 ½ sacks in 2024 despite playing in only five games, missing most of the season after suffering a broken tibia against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 13.
Hutchinson spoke a little bit about his recovery process on Thursday, pointing out that he has recently been hit in the same place where he injured his leg last season and feels confident in how his leg responded:
"I got up, shook it out, and was like 'we're back,'" he said. "When you get leg-whipped, you start to have that confidence of 'I got a steel rod in my leg, and this thing's not going anywhere.'"
For the sake of the Lions defense, which really missed Hutchinson down the stretch in 2024, Hutchinson's health could be a decisive factor in the team's Super Bowl aspirations in 2025.
Lions management has already indicated that Hutchinson will be here "for the long haul," even though general manager Brad Holmes hasn't given a clear indication of how he wants to approach contract negotiations.
When asked if he expects to be offered an extension, Hutchinson kept it just as muddy:
"I'm not really sure. You can ask those guys up there," he said, indicating to the team's front office.
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Aidan Hutchinson contract extension update: What Lions star DE said
Category: Football
