Lions To Reportedly Start Aidan Hutchinson Contract Talks After DE Cleared from Injury

Detroit Lions pass-rusher Aidan Hutchnson confirmed Thursday that he's been medically cleared from the broken tibia and fibula that ended his 2024 season. With that hurdle out of the way, a very lucrative contract extension is likely to follow.

"It does seem like, while there have been some talks and discussions, it seems like the Lions' move to pay him was waiting until he got fully cleared," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. "Now he is. So now they can really kickstart the conversations, really have those discussions about making him one of the highest-paid edge-rushers in the NFL."

Hutchinson's injury, suffered in October, was a huge blow to Detroit's Super Bowl aspirations last season. The 2023 Pro Bowler was having a fantastic campaign, registering 7.5 sacks in five games, and was an early favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year before his season was cut short.

And he's excited to pick up where he left off.

"I got cleared a while back and now I'm just rolling with the boys and it feels like I'm back to being myself again," he told reporters Thursday. "I'm really looking forward to the season. ... I mean, I think this is the most excited I've been for OTAs in my life. This is the biggest hiatus I've had (from) playing ball. So, I'm pumped."

It will be interesting to see what kind of extension Hutchinson lands. San Francisco's Nick Bosa currently has the most total money among edge-rushers as part of his five-year, $170 million deal, while Myles Garrett's four-year, $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns leads the position in average annual value ($40 million) and practical guaranteed money ($123.5 million).

It remains to be seen if Hutchinson will top either benchmark, though he's only 24 and already has 28.5 sacks through 39 career games, elite production. He certainly believes the best is yet to come.

"I would say there's motivation, not from it getting taken away, but me putting that on tape," he said. "I had a lot of growth in those first five games to where I feel like you evolved as a player and things were clicking at a high level. ... I think a lot of people, you know, believe that that is kind of like my ceiling. But I still believe that, you know, I'm gonna continue to push for those greater heights. I'm 24, I'm still a young dude. I don't think that's the peak."

The Lions are certainly hoping so. They'll probably pay him as such.