Aidan Hutchinson says thanks to Micah Parsons for eventual lucrative contract
The price for pass rushers has increased a ton during this offseason. The Cleveland Browns signed Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million contract extension. Then, the Pittsburgh Steelers and T.J. watt agreed to terms on a three-year, $123 million extension. But one week ago, the Detroit Lions' main adversary, the Green Bay Packers, broke the pass rusher market.
Last week, the Packers acquired superstar Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys, and signed him immediately to a four-year, $188 million contract. This reset the pass rusher market, with Parsons earning the most in total money and annual salary ($46.5 million). These marks will eventually be surpassed, perhaps soon with Lions star Aidan Hutchinson.
While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Hutchinson acknowledged Parsons' new contract and is happy seeing all the pass rushers get paid.
“It’s always exciting — it’s been a big year for D-ends. It’s been a big year for the market. It’s gone up exponentially. So, yeah, it’s always exciting to see that market go up,” Hutchinson said.
Aidan Hutchinson thrilled of reset pass rusher market after Micah Parsons contract extension
Hutchinson did say that while he's excited about the point pass rusher market has reached, he's not worried about his contract situation. His focus is on the Packers on Sunday "and sacking Jordan Love." This is Hutchinson's first game since suffering a fractured tibia and fibula last season against the Cowboys.
The Lions don't have to worry about a contract extension for another year, as they can still pick up his fifth-year option. But as we all know, it's never a great idea to let things reach the last minute. Just ask the Cowboys about Parsons. Things went so poorly that Parsons requested a trade and team owner Jerry Jones justified his bizarre negotiation tactics, only leading to the trade to the Packers. General manager Brad Holmes certainly wouldn't want things to reach that point.
Luckily for the Lions, they don't have any other major players set to hit free agency after this season, so they should have some cap space to help negotiate a deal with Hutchinson to ensure he continues to play his prime years of his career in Detroit.
Lions Officially Announce Massive Jameson Williams Contract Extension
On Sunday morning, the day of their season-opening matchup against their division-rival Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions officially announced their massive contract extension for WR Jameson Williams. The speedster wide receiver and former first-round pick was a big part of Detroit’s offense last season, and now he’s locked up for the foreseeable future.
According to NFL inside Jordan Schultz on Saturday, the Lions signed Williams to a three-year deal worth up to $83 million on the eve of the season. The extension officially keeps Williams under contract through 2029, as he was still on the fourth year of his rookie contract this season and could have played on the fifth-year option in 2026.
Schultz adds that the deal carries $67 million in guarantees, a hefty number. The $27.6 million in average annual value ranks 13th in the league among wide receivers, just above the Bears’ D.J. Moore and just under the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle.
“The Lions have signed WR Jameson Williams to a contract extension,” the team’s press release reads. “Among all NFL players in 2024, he tied for 1st in 50+ yard catches (five) & was 2nd in receiving average (17.3). Among all NFL WRs with 50+ catches last year, he ranked 1st in YAC/reception (8.6).”
Jameson Williams Had a Breakout Season in 2024
Mike Mulholland/GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Jameson Williams #9 of the Detroit Lions reacts after a first down during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
It wasn’t a banner start to his career for Williams. The former star at Alabama in college was the No. 12 overall pick in 2022. The Lions paid a steep price to get him, trading a first-rounder (No. 32), a second-rounder (No. 34), and a third-rounder for the No. 2 pick and a lower second-rounder (No. 46). Detroit had already used a first-round pick that year on OT Penei Sewell (No. 7).
Williams was recovering from an ACL tear as a rookie and only played in six games, logging a single reception. But that one catch went for 41 yards and a touchdown, flashing his high-level potential as a game-breaking speed threat.
With just 24 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, many were wondering if the Lions had made a mistake drafting Williams so high. But he put those concerns to rest in a breakout 2024 campaign, when he had 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns, adding an important field-stretching ability to the Lions offense.
The Detroit Lions Offense Will Have Some New Pieces This Season
The high-flying Lions offense will have some new elements this season. Star offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, taking his ingenuity and creativity with him. Internal promotion John Morton has big shoes to fill, but the team has every confidence in him.
Along the offensive line, C Frank Ragnow retired and G Kevin Zeitler signed with the Titans in free agency. Graham Glasgow slides over to center to replace Ragnow, while rookie second-rounder Tate Ratledge steps in at RG for Zeitler.
Despite the new faces, this Lions offense should remain one of the NFL’s best — even if it looks a little different.
