The Detroit Lions have a major contract decision ahead as they look to lock down star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for the long term. With the edge rusher market heating up, Hutchinson’s next deal could be massive—especially after the Las Vegas Raiders set a new benchmark by giving Maxx Crosby a record-breaking three-year, $106.5 million extension. That deal includes an eye-popping $91.5 million guaranteed and a $34.5 million annual salary, the highest ever for a defensive player.
Hutchinson, at just 24 years old, is in a strong position to surpass some of Crosby’s numbers. Despite playing seven fewer games in 2024 due to injury, he still matched Crosby’s sack total (7.5) and remains one of the league’s most promising young pass rushers. This will also be his first contract beyond his rookie deal, which typically leads to a significant pay jump.
NFL insiders, including Adam Schefter, have pointed out that several other elite edge rushers—like Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Trey Hendrickson—are also due for new contracts this offseason. With the market surging, Hutchinson’s value is only increasing, making it imperative for the Lions to act sooner rather than later if they want to secure their defensive cornerstone.
If the Lions decide to wait, they have the option to exercise Hutchinson’s fifth-year extension, which would keep him under contract through 2026 at a one-year price tag of $19.9 million. However, that would only delay the inevitable and potentially lead to an even bigger payday down the line.
At last week’s NFL Combine, Lions general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged the importance of extending Hutchinson but remained vague about where negotiations currently stand. “We have one that’s due for an extension and we’ve already kind of gotten to the planning stages about him already,” Holmes said.
For now, all eyes are on Detroit’s front office to see if they’ll strike a deal before the market inflates even further. With the Lions emerging as Super Bowl contenders, keeping Hutchinson locked in long-term is a top priority.
Raiders, Maxx Crosby Reset Market with Deal That Impacts Aidan Hutchinson
