The NFL offseason is in full swing, as teams are currently signing veterans in free agency and preparing for the upcoming draft to put together their roster for the 2025 season.
After the draft, every team that selected a player in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft will have to make their decision on fifth-year options on those players for the 2026 season.
The Detroit Lions selected two players in the first round in 2022, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and wide receiver Jameson Williams, and Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker believes that Detroit will pick up options for both players.
Hutchinson, 24, was the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Michigan, where he was All-Big Ten twice, All-American once and the 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and MVP.
In his three seasons, he’s made one Pro Bowl and appeared in 39 games, recording 122 tackles (30 for a loss), 65 quarterback hits, 28.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four interceptions and four fumbles recovered. He missed significant time last year after fracturing both his tibia and fibula against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
While the injury was serious, it shouldn’t have any impact on the team’s long-term plans with one of the best young edge rushers in the league. In fact, Locker thinks that the Lions could give Hutchinson an extension before he actually plays on the option, which is currently expected to be $20.86 million (but that could jump to $25.45 million if he makes the Pro Bowl this year).
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Williams, 23, was the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft after playing collegiately at Ohio State (2019-20) and Alabama (2021), where he earned All-SEC and All-American honors in his final college season.
Having missed the start of his rookie season due to a torn ACL that he suffered in Alabama and losing part of his second year due to a gambling suspension, Williams has played in 33 games for Detroit. He’s caught 83 passes for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing 15 times for 130 yards and two more scores.
There are more questions about Williams than Hutchinson, but he should be locked in for the extra year, which is currently worth $15.49 million but could jump to $21.44 million if he makes the Pro Bowl in 2025.
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