Taking a look at the numbers behind Aidan Hutchinson's contract extension

With all the players they have and will have to consider signing to lucrative contract extensions, the Detroit Lions had to be open for that kind of business at all times. Coming off their bye week, they agreed to terms with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson on a four-year, $180 million deal with a reported $141 million guaranteed.

With this year and his 2026 fifth-year option already spoken for, Hutchinson is now under contract through 2030. His successful return from the broken leg that derailed what could've been a Defensive Player of the Year campaign last year made making him one of the league's highest-paid edge rushers a no-brainer. Still, there was never any doubt the Lions were going to reward another of their core players.

Of course, as is always the case with contracts of this size, there's a potential devil in the details.

With that in mind, let's look at Hutchinson's new deal.

Taking a look at Aidan Hutchinson's mega contract extension

Hutchinson got a $15 million signing bonus, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adding half will paid within 30 days of signing and the other half will be paid by January 29, 2026.

He's getting $54.872 million fully guaranteed a signing, comprised of the signing bonus ($15 million), his entire 2026 compensation ($28.407 million option bonus, $250,000 workout bonus, $1.215 million base salary) and $10 million of his 2027 compensation.

According to Spotrac and Over The Cap, an additional $19.55 million of Hutchinson's 2027 pay becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2026 league year (let's assume that happens).

Spotrac and Florio report Hutchinson has a $28,29 million option bonus for 2027, guaranteed for injury and fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2026 league year according to Florio (another practical lock to happen).

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Hutchinson has a $200,000 per game active roster bonus in each year of the extension ($11,764 per game from 2027-2030), which of course must be earned. He also has a $250,000 workout bonus each year from 2026-2030, which also of course must be earned (likely based on attending at least a certain percentage of offseason work).

On the third day of the 2027 league year, Hutchinson will have $29.55 million for 2028 become fully guaranteed (a $28.245 million option bonus plus a $1.3 million base salary).

In 2029, Hutchinson has a $29.55 base salary and a $20 million option bonus (Over The Cap has it as a $20.98 million option bonus) in addition to the aformentioned workout and per-game roster bonuses. $29 million of that base salary becomes guaranteed on the third day of the 2028 league year, with $6.428 million in additional compensation becoming guaranteed on the third day of the 2029 league year.

In 2030, Hutchinson has a $22 million base salary (non-guaranteed), a $20 million option bonus and a $2.75 million offseason roster bonus due on March 15, 2030.

Now, let's get down to what you really want to know. Via Over The Cap, here are the salary cap hits for Hutchinson now.

2025: $14,363.351
2026: $10,146,000
2027: $16,049,400
2028: $21,743,400
2029: $53,988,400
2030: $49,988,400
2031: $44,956,000 (void year)

As Florio noted, Hutchinson's sheer "new money" average is as it was reported--$45 million. Including his original 2026 pay, the deal will pay out $200.483 million through 2030. He is essentially fully guaranteed $134.483 million, including the $29 million for 2029 that'll become guaranteed in March of 2028.

The Lions have their easiest out of Hutchinson's after the 2028 season, with the $29 million they'd already have guaranteed him for 2029 subject to offset according to Florio. Over The Cap, which has different details for the option bonuses, actually shows a potential out in 2028 ($15.74 million in cap savings, $6 million in dead money with a pre-June 1 cut).

Hutchinson will only be 30 years old in 2030. So if he stays healthy and continues to produce along the same lines he has, he could be in line for a nice third contract with the Lions with some good years left in his career.