Should the Lions Consider Contract Extension for Aidan Hutchinson Before 2025 Season?

As the Detroit Lions evaluate their candidates for contract extensions during the NFL's offseason, a few names, such as veterans Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler, have floated to the surface. However, one player entering the final year of his rookie contract is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. 

Before he suffered a significant leg injury that sidelined him for the latter half of the 2024 season, Hutchinson led the league in sacks. According to Sports Illustrated's John Maakron, who has covered Detroit sports for over a decade, Hutchinson's ability to earn a contract extension would "reset the market for edge rushers with the salary cap continuing to climb." 

During the "Lone Wolves" podcast, co-host Christian Booher said he believed the cap would rise by approximately $20 million each year. Booher argued that getting a deal done early would be the key for the Lions to get ahead. 

"I think the Lions are gonna do everything they can to get this thing done early. You do have the option of taking the fifth-year option and letting it play out," he said. "But the Lions have the persona of being a team that likes to avoid the drama that comes with the contract disputes and the holdouts, and things of that nature that we've seen across the league for the last several years.”