ALLEN PARK — Star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson has been eligible to sign an extension with the Detroit Lions since March, but thus far, there haven’t been many updates regarding what’s expected to be one of the richest non-quarterback contracts in NFL history.
Hutchinson publicly addressed the matter Thursday for the first time, saying he’s been “pretty hands-off in the process.”
“The business side can take away from your love the game a little bit, and that’s kind of the reality of the NFL,” Hutchinson said. “I have a lot of people in my close circle that do deal with that, so my main focus is out here playing football, playing this game that I love.”
Hutchinson, 25, is entering his fourth NFL season. He appears to have returned to form while coming off a broken tibia and fibula, which derailed a Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2024. He registered 7½ sacks through the first 4½ games before suffering the leg injury at AT&T Stadium in a 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
He’s set to make significantly more money now than he would have had he signed shortly after becoming eligible. The top of the edge rusher market has been reset four times since the start of the offseason, with Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt pulling in a contract worth $41 million annually.
With Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati Bengals) and Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys) still searching for contracts of their own, it’s possible the price only goes up if the Lions don’t get a deal soon.
“I’m not really sure,” Hutchinson said when asked if he expects a new deal before the season begins on Sept. 7. “You can ask those guys (the front office) up there.”
Two weeks ago, Lions general manager Brad Holmes told 97.1 The Ticket hosts Jim Costa and Jon Jansen that the two sides haven’t had “any intense talks on a contract.
“We’ll definitely get some dialogue going soon,” Holmes said. “All those things take time, especially the larger the deal is.”
Originally Published: August 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM EDT