Could the Detroit Lions find themselves in the same position the 49ers are in right now, torn between who to keep and who to let go? It might sound far-fetched today, but give it two or three years, and that reality might be knocking at Detroit’s door. The Lions are riding high, fresh off a season that gave fans real hope. And a roster that looks like it can hang with the best in the NFC.

But success comes with its own set of problems. And the biggest one might be financial. So, as more young stars blossom and their rookie contracts expire, the front office will be faced with some tough calls. Big names like Aidan Hutchinson are going to want big paydays now. 

And if the Lions keep handing out massive contracts like candy, they might not have much left for the next wave of talent. Recently, Mike Florio and Devin McCourty discussed the exact issue. Florio pointed out the financial dilemma that could be heading the Detroit Lions’ way. Right now, the team has been generous with contracts, paying big names like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff, and others to keep the core together. And while this may look like a smart move for now, it might not be sustainable forever. 

“They’ve been giving away and giving out big contracts to hold this team together. At some point, though, you’re not going to be able. You’re going to get deeper into their big contracts, and they’re not earning it anymore.” Now, Mike simply warned the Lions, saying, “You can’t pay everyone.” And that these contracts might eventually backfire, especially if the player’s performance declines. So, when that happens, the team would be stuck with heavy contracts and tough decisions. They might then have talented players being forced out simply because there’s no cap room left.

Devin McCourty then chimes in, suggesting that Detroit must know who their true core players are. And those should be the guys who know how to elevate everyone else around them. So when the Lions chose to lock in Amon-Ra St. Brown with a big contract, it sent a message: he’s their foundational piece at WR. But that kind of commitment comes with trade-offs.

It could mean there’s simply no room left to give someone like Jameson Williams a top-dollar deal. “There are certain guys, you’re going to say these are our core guys, that if we have them around, there’s going to be other guys that come in that are going to be better because we kept these core guys,” said Devin.

And those tough decisions might be knocking on the door sooner than expected. With star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson now reportedly seeking a new deal. 

Aidan Hutchinson’s turn at the table

Aidan Hutchinson will be entering the fourth year of his rookie deal. The team has until May 1 to decide on the fifth-year option. Since Aidan was drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft, second overall, there’s an option to add an extra year to his rookie contract. And the Lions will most likely extend the 24-year-old’s contract. They also have to decide on Jameson Williams as well. But like Florio puts it, you cannot pay everyone. Talking about Williams’ contract, GM Brad Holmes said that the team will likely exercise the fifth-year option on him.

Holmes also talked about Aidan’s contract in an interview with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The GM knows how expensive Hutchinson’s contract could be for the team because the prices are skyrocketing for elite edge rushers. “It is what it is. I mean, we had it in that range kind of already when we do our future planning and budgeting, but then obviously when it goes up it just goes up and that’s just what you got to prepare for.” Well, it looks like Holmes and Detroit’s front office have already projected Hutchinson’s deal to land in the big-money range.

So now, it’s time for Aidan Hutchinson to get his reward. The star DE is not only due for a big extension, but he also seems to be back in top shape. Lately, Aidan’s been dropping his practice videos as he looks in great form after suffering a severe leg injury. All in all, it’s looking good for him, the recovery process, and the upcoming extension talks.