NFL franchises, including the Detroit Lions, have until Thursday, May 1, to decide whether to pick up or decline the fully guaranteed fifth-year options for their 2022 first-round draft picks for the 2026 season.
Fifth-year option amounts are calculated based on position and four distinct performance tiers: basic, playtime, one Pro Bowl, or multiple Pro Bowls via the original ballot. Over The Cap provides a full breakdown of each tier.
The Lions drafted two players in the first round and now have under a week to finalize their decisions.
Because Aidan Hutchinson earned a Pro Bowl selection on the original ballot in 2023, his fifth-year option falls under Tier 3. This tier carries a value of $19.872 million, equal to the transition tag for an EDGE rusher/defensive end. The transition tag represents the average salary of the top ten earners at that position from the prior season.
Detroit Lions decide on $19 million option for top defensive talent
Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes acknowledges fans as he steps onto the field before the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
As reported by Field Yates, the Lions have officially picked up the fifth-year options for both Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams for the 2026 season.
This move keeps Hutchinson under contract through 2026 with a guaranteed salary of $19.872 million. The team may also work toward signing him to a massive long-term deal that could rank him among the league’s top edge rushers.
