Aidan Hutchinson’s Detroit Lions impact could be summed up by one statistic.
In 2024, Hutchinson broke his leg in Week 6. He still wound up leading the Lions in sacks for the entire season.
And on Thursday, Detroit received great news: Hutchinson told reporters that he has been fully cleared from his rehab and is full-go for the rest of the offseason and the 2025 season ahead.
That’s a crucial bit of news for the Lions, who want to contend for a Super Bowl after a disappointing defeat to Washington in last year’s divisional round.
It also could mean more for Hutchinson, with NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport writing on X, “(news) that could help him land a blockbuster contract.”
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Hutchinson is among a group of defensive ends (Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt) that will all be seeking the richest contract ever signed by a defensive end.
Currently, a $40 million average annual value is the record, by Myles Garrett with the Browns. He signed for four years, but the younger Hutchinson could seek five years.
If Hutchinson gets the record average and spreads it over five years, that’s looking at something like $202 million. And that’s if Watt or Parsons don’t reset the market first and prompt the Lions to pay Hutchinson even more.
The former Michigan star is beloved in Detroit. Lions fans would probably give money out of their own wallets to ensure Hutchinson sticks around.
And finally back to full health, Hutchinson will soon get the chance to show just how valuable he is.
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