Since being selected No. 2 overall in the 2022 draft, Aidan Hutchinson has lived up to the Detroit Lions’ expectations. Had it not been for a broken leg in Week 6 last season, he likely would have contended for Defensive Player of the Year honors, finishing with 7.5 sacks in under five full games.
Now, three seasons into his career, Hutchinson is eligible for a contract extension this offseason. The Lions can activate his fifth-year option by May 1, though that could serve as a placeholder until a longer extension is finalized. Hutchinson is also nearing the completion of his rehab from the broken leg and is expected to be ready for the offseason program.
The Lions have been proactive about locking up key players to extensions (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff, Alim McNeill), and it seems inevitable that Hutchinson will soon become one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL, if not the highest.
During the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Lions general manager Brad Holmes indicated that adding another top-tier edge rusher wasn’t in the cards for this offseason, with the cost of a veteran addition being a significant factor.
“Just because we lost a star pass rusher due to injury doesn’t mean other teams are going to say, ‘Hey, we have a star pass rusher. I know you lost one, but we have one. Do you want him?’” Holmes remarked with a smile. “No, that’s a star for that team, and they’re focused on winning games… These players are hard to find, which is why it’s a premium position. They’re tough to acquire, and it’s even harder to keep them financially.”
Holmes continued, “We have one due for an extension, and we’re already in the planning stages with him.” The “planning stages” remain somewhat vague, but it’s evident that the Lions are taking the necessary steps to ensure Hutchinson remains with the team for the long haul, as expected.