The Detroit Lions are facing crucial decisions regarding three members of their 2022 draft class.
Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph, and Jameson Williams are all players from this group who are set to command significant contracts when they become eligible for extensions this offseason.
During the NFL’s Annual League Meetings on Monday, general manager Brad Holmes shared updates on the status of each player and their potential long-term contracts.
Holmes expressed optimism about Hutchinson’s recovery from a season-ending leg injury. With the market for players at his position reaching $40 million per year, the Lions are aware that extending Hutchinson will require a substantial financial commitment.
“Look, it is what it is,” Holmes said. “We had it in that range, kind of, already when we do our future planning and budgeting. But then obviously, when it goes up, it just goes up and that’s just what you’ve got to prepare for. I don’t know what it’ll end up being. That’s the difficult part about our job, but we work really hard in terms of the prediction forecasting of that market. He’s just one of many that we’ve had to budget.”
With Myles Garrett recently signing a deal worth an average of $40 million per year and Cincinnati potentially negotiating an extension with Trey Hendrickson, the price for an EDGE rusher continues to rise.
Holmes also emphasized his intention to retain Joseph. The 2024 first-team All-Pro selection is expected to be a top contender at the safety position, and Holmes made it clear that the team is keen on reaching a deal. However, he did not specify when that might happen.
Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions last season and has voiced his desire to stay in Detroit as well.
“He’s a player that we want to keep and, you know, we’ve let that be known,” Holmes stated. “He’s a fit for us, for our team. He’s a really good player, but in terms of the timing, we’ll just kind of see where it goes.”
