The Detroit Lions have several players up for contract extensions this offseason. This includes veterans Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler, along with members of the 2022 draft class who are entering the final year of their rookie deals.

One particular player in this category is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. His situation is especially noteworthy, as he’s recovering from a significant leg injury that sidelined him for the latter part of what was shaping up to be a standout season.

Now, the Lions will need to carefully assess the future potential of Hutchinson, the Michigan product who was leading the league in sacks before his injury. He’s in line for a potential extension that could reset the market for edge rushers, especially with the salary cap continuing to rise.

“If the cap is gonna keep increasing by $20 million each year, locking in deals like this early could make you look like a genius,” said co-host Christian Booher. “Yes, I believe Aidan Hutchinson has the chance to reset the market for his position. But with the injury, the value might dip just a little.

However, I think the Lions will do everything they can to finalize this early. They have the option to use the fifth-year option and let it play out, but the Lions are a team known for avoiding drama related to contract disputes and holdouts, things we’ve seen around the league in recent years.”

The latest ‘Lone Wolves’ podcast dives into the various contract decisions the Lions are facing and looks ahead to the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine.