Lions' NFL Salary Cap After Aidan Hutchinson's Historic $180M Contract Extension

The Detroit Lions have signed defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to a four-year, $180 million contract extension with $141 million in total guarantees, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, who provided more information.

Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions have now agreed to terms with nine current players to nearly a billion dollars' worth of deals.

Per Over the Cap, outside of Hutchinson, the eight players with the highest contract values on the team are quarterback Jared Goff ($212 million total contract value), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown ($120 million), right tackle Penei Sewell ($112 million), interior defensive lineman Alim McNeill ($97 million), safety Kerby Joseph ($85 million), wide receiver Jameson Williams ($80 million), left tackle Taylor Decker ($60 million) and cornerback D.J. Reed ($48 million).

Hutchinson has two years left on his current rookie deal (including this season) after the Lions picked up his fifth-year option. Therefore, this extension will account for the 2027-2030 seasons.

Hutchinson's exact cap numbers per season have not been reported as of Wednesday, but we do know it carries an average annual value of $45 million per year.

If you tack that number onto the Lions' current cap liabilities and subtract it from its listed projected cap space in 2027 and 2028 via Over the Cap, these are the results.

• 2027: $284.2 million ($26.8 million in cap space)
• 2028: $265.6 million ($61.4 million in cap space)

Over the Cap lists the NFL with a projected base salary cap of $311 million in 2027 and $328 million in 2028. There are no current projections for 2029 and 2030.

The Lions' current cap liabilities for 2029 and 2030 are $84.7 million and $79.1 million, respectively. Adding $45 million to each of those years results in the following numbers.

• 2029: $129.7 million
• 2030: $124.1 million

Hutchinson is in his fourth year with the Lions after they selected him with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The ex-Michigan star has six sacks, 13 quarterback hits and an NFL-leading four forced fumbles for the 5-2 Lions, who look like a Super Bowl contender once again.

He's made a tremendous comeback after suffering a season-ending fractured tibia and fibula in his left leg in a 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 13, 2024. Ultimately, he's well-deserving of a market-setting deal as pass-rushers continue to get paid. Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons previously held the record for most guaranteed money for a non-quarterback after he signed a four-year, $186 million contract with $120 million guaranteed before the season following a trade from the Dallas Cowboys.

As for Hutchinson, he's once again serving as the heartbeat of the Lions defense as the team looks to win its first-ever Super Bowl. Detroit will look to improve to 6-2 on Sunday when the team hosts the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings.