By Patricia 
Lions Love Hutch, But Should They Put a Ring on It Yet?
The Detroit Lions are riding high with excitement this offseason — and why not? The roster’s looking solid, the vibes are elite, and fans are already counting down the days until kickoff. But while the hype is building, there’s one big item still sitting on the team’s to-do list: what to do about star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Right now, Hutch is basically the defensive golden child. The Lions haven’t made any flashy moves for another edge rusher, which means Hutch’s value is skyrocketing inside that locker room. But now? They’re being told: “Hey, maybe don’t rush to sign that massive extension just yet.”
Tick, Tock — The Contract Clock’s Running
In a new piece from Bleacher Report, NFL analyst Kristopher Knox laid out what every team still needs to handle before summer fades into training camp chaos. For the Lions? His top priority: sort out Hutchinson’s future.
Knox makes a solid point: Hutchinson is coming off a leg injury, but he’s still shown enough dominance to deserve a long-term deal. And with the market for elite pass rushers going wild this offseason, locking him in before guys like Micah Parsons reset the money bar might be smart business.
One Man Can’t Sack ‘Em All
That said, Knox also throws a caution flag: Detroit’s defense needs more than just Hutch. Last season, the Lions only managed 37 sacks total. Hutchinson led the way, and after him? Za’Darius Smith — with just four. Ouch.
Now that Smith’s gone, the Lions are thin at edge rusher. Knox suggests either bringing Smith back, grabbing someone off the free-agent heap, or swinging big in a trade — say, for Trey Hendrickson. Whatever they do, Hutch needs help out there.
Double the New Guys, Double the Risk?
On top of the Hutchinson decision, the Lions have another challenge: two new coordinators. That’s a lot of change. Knox warns it could get messy — just ask the Eagles, who looked like world-beaters in 2022 and then completely unraveled after losing both coordinators in 2023.
The Lions might dodge that fate, though. New DC Kelvin Sheppard is a familiar face — he’s been with Detroit as a linebackers coach for four years. And new OC John Morton has some Lions history too, even if he’s fresh off a stint in Denver.
Want the TL;DR?
* Hutchinson’s a star, but don’t rush the bag.
* The defense needs another big-time edge rusher, stat.
* Two new coordinators could mean turbulence — or just a fresh start.
Stay tuned, because Detroit’s offseason still has a few plot twists left.