Aidan Hutchinson’s Market Value Set by Maxx Crosby’s New Deal
Aidan Hutchinson is going to receive a hefty payday, but Maxx Crosby’s recent deal has set the financial benchmark for the Lions.
Had Hutchinson stayed healthy throughout last season, he was well on his way to potentially winning Defensive Player of the Year. It still seems likely he’ll secure a contract extension this offseason; it’s just a matter of timing.
There is a case for Hutchinson to wait, and for the Lions to wait until he has a fully healthy season before finalizing a multi-year extension. The Lions can exercise his $19.9 million fifth-year option for 2026 to delay the decision, but this could also serve as a placeholder until they agree on an extension.
At the NFL Combine last week, Lions general manager Brad Holmes stated that they are in the “planning stages” for a contract extension with Hutchinson. Exactly what that entails is unclear.
“We have one (an edge rusher) due for an extension, and we’ve already started planning for him,” Holmes said.
Whenever the extension happens, Hutchinson is set to become the highest-paid edge rusher in the league. Crosby’s recent deal has now set the standard.
On Wednesday, the Las Vegas Raiders announced they reached a three-year, $106.5 million deal with Maxx Crosby. This new contract, with an average annual value of $35.5 million and $91.5 million guaranteed, makes Crosby the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
After recovering from a broken leg, it’s expected Hutchinson will be fully healed by Week 1 and quickly return to his dominant form. Betting markets currently have Hutchinson as the favorite for both Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also listed Hutchinson among the next edge rushers likely to land large extensions, following Crosby’s deal, alongside Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, Micah Parsons, and Trey Hendrickson.
However, Hutchinson has one factor working in his favor: he’s almost three years younger than Crosby (24 vs. 27), and he posted the same number of sacks as Crosby (7.5) in seven fewer games last season. Among the other four edge rushers mentioned, Parsons (25, turning 26 in May) is the only one younger than Crosby.
It’s clear the Lions will pay Hutchinson whatever it takes. Ideally, the per-year average would come in a bit lower, but $36 million is now the baseline (though this could quickly rise), and $40 million per year is becoming a real possibility.