The Detroit Lions scored big in the 2022 NFL draft, selecting edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall choice.
Now, the team will seek to keep Hutchinson in Detroit for the long haul.
This week, Lions president Rod Wood discussed Hutchinson’s future, avoiding any direct updates on a contract extension but emphasizing that the organization intended to keep him long-term.
Lions ‘Assured’ of Long-Term Deal with Aidan Hutchinson
When asked about Hutchinson’s future, Wood answered “no comment” but expressed confidence that a long-term arrangement will be reached.
“He will be here the long haul, I can assure you of that,” Wood told you.
The Lions president could not provide a specific time frame for when an extension may be signed, but did highlight that the organization had secured other key players in due time and will do the same with Hutchinson.
“We’ll start working on that,” Wood added. “And we have a track record of extending our own players, which we’ve done that recently with Sewell and St. Brown and [defensive tackle] Alim McNeill, and I think that Hutch is likely to be coming up soon.”
Hutchinson is coming off a season cut short by injuries, having suffered a fractured leg in October and throwing the team’s pass rush off. Hutchinson finished with 7.5 sacks, leading the team despite only appearing in five games prior to his season-ending injury.
Lions are confident about Aidan Hutchinson’s return.
Last season, Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated that Hutchinson could return to the field if the club progressed to the Super Bowl, but the season was cut short with an upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
Hutchinson disclosed earlier in April that he had completed his rehab and was ready to return to the field for offseason exercises.
“I am there. “I’d say I’m good,” Hutchinson remarked during his appearance at the Masters on Thursday. “I have my final evaluation tests when I get back; I leave today and return to the rehab tomorrow. I’m going to finish those evaluations, and once I do, I’ll be done with rehab. I’ll tell you, it was a long process.
Hutchinson noted that the recuperation process was long and difficult, but he was relieved to have completed it.
“It felt pretty long,” Hutchinson explained. “The early stages were difficult, but now that you’re out of it, as we spoke earlier, you have a newfound appreciation for your body, for no pain, and for running. I’m glad to be finished with that. People also like the sprinting video. I didn’t expect people to adore it as much as they did. But I received a lot of text messages and DMs. It was great, and the support has been incredible.”
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