The Detroit Lions Just Gave Aidan Hutchinson The Most Guaranteed Money Ever For Non-QB (4-Year $180M Deal, $141M Guaranteed)

It's always a nice wholesome story when a star athlete is born, raised, goes to high school, goes to college, AND plays professionally in the same city-ish. It's as wholesome as a story involving a person signing a $180M contract can be. Aidan Hutchinson was born in Plymouth, Michigan. Went to high school in Dearborn, Michigan. 

Played college football in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

Now he's a hundred-millionaire in Detroit, Michigan. The very city he's been edging his entire life.

And it's especially cool in a city like Detroit. Personally, I think Detroit is a little underrated. You can have a good time in Detroit. It's not nearly as much of a hellscape as it's made out to be. But when it comes to cities that are homes to professional sports teams, Detroit is an underdog. It's a city that historically, players want to get away from. Although right now, in 2025, Detroit sports is in a pretty damn good spot. Detroit is having a bit of a "moment". The Pistons with Cade Cunningham made the playoffs last year, and are on the up-and-up. The Detroit Tigers were just a game away from the ALCS. The Lions are Super Bowl contenders. Even the Red Wings, who have historically been Detroit's most consistent professional sports franchise, but have fallen off recently, now have a good young squad and are off to an awesome start this season. And if you want to count the University of Michigan as Detroit (most people living there are Michigan fans, so I think that's fair), the Michigan Wolverines won a National Championship just a few years ago.  

Detroit sports are hot right now. Good for Detroit. Good for the Lions for locking down the star of their defense. Aidan Hutchinson's $141M guarantee is the most guaranteed money ever given to a non-QB. 

But that $141M is right up with there with the best QB's in the NFL. Although still not very close to the amount of guaranteed money given to the most predatory (just one man's opinion) QB in the NFL.

Jesus Christ, Browns. The worst QB situation in the NFL, and they're paying more money to one than anybody else. Sometimes I forget just how all-time terrible that contract is. Someday, someone will knock Deshaun Watson off the top of that list. Might not be for another few years or so, but it's bound to happen eventually. 

Anyways, Aidan Hutchinson getting this money despite missing a majority of last season with an injury, makes it all the more impressive. That's how good he's been. The Lions defense isn't the same without him (i.e. they probably can't win the Super Bowl without him). 

I hope Aidan Hutchinson spends his whole career in Detroit. I probably wouldn't do it. That's nothing against the city of Detroit, but if I were a star NFL player, I think it'd be fun to experience at least a couple different cities/franchises in my career. But there's something admirable about a player who spends his entire career with a single team. And if the Lions are going to keep winning (which they seem set up to do)…

I suppose I don't see why he wouldn't.