One of the major priorities on the Detroit Lions’ 2025 offseason agenda is to secure a new contract for elite pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. On Wednesday, the initial domino of the defensive end market dropped, as the Las Vegas Raiders awarded Maxx Crosby a three-year, $106.5 million contract according to several reports. That’s an average of $34.5 million per year, surpassing the previous record for any defensive NFL player. Additionally, remarkably, it comprises $91.5 million guaranteed, which is roughly 86% of the extra funds.
Even after recovering from an injury, Hutchinson might set some of those records. He’s (24) notably younger than Crosby (27), he recorded the same number of sacks last season (7.5) even while playing seven games less than Crosby, and this will be Hutchinson’s initial contract following his rookie deal.
However, as Adam Schefter highlighted, Hutchinson is merely one of several edge defenders set to receive substantial contracts this offseason. Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, and Micah Parsons are anticipated to request—and probably receive—new contracts this year.
If the Lions or Hutchinson are uneasy about finalizing a deal this year, Detroit could extend their negotiation time by opting for Hutchinson’s fifth-year option. That essentially represents a one-year, $19.9 million extension that would keep him under contract until the 2026 season.
Currently, it’s unclear where discussions stand between Hutchinson and the Lions. Last week during the NFL Combine, Lions general manager Brad Holmes provided a vague update.
“We have one that’s up for an extension, and we’ve already begun to enter the planning phases regarding him,” Holmes stated.