Alim McNeil will stay with the Lions for four more years
DETROIT — The defensive tackle of the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/nfl-10-stories-to-watch-in-the-first-round-of-the-playoffs/" title="NFL: 10 stories to watch in the first round of the playoffs”>Detroit Lions, Alim McNeillagreed to a extension of contract for four yearsaccording to his agent, Mike McCartney of Vayner Sports.
McNeill’s deal is worth $97 million, including $55 million guaranteeda source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
He is the third member of Detroit’s 2021 draft class under general manager Brad Holmes to sign an extension, joining All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who both reached extensions this season. low.
On Saturday, the Lions also signed star running back David Montgomery to a two-year, $18.25 million extension that ties him to the Lions through the 2027 season as they continue to reward their players after a strong start to the season. Additionally, the Lions re-signed quarterback Jared Goff to a new four-year, $212 million contract in May.
After training camp, Holmes said he believes in getting ahead of contract negotiations and rewarding top players for their efforts, which sends a message to the locker room.
“The market is going to change. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We’ve always thought the sooner the better for everyone,” Holmes said in August. “First of all, I know the player doesn’t want to wait and be fooled, and we as an organization do a lot of planning and preparation to reward these players as soon as possible because you don’t know what’s going to happen next week, next month”.
McNeill, 24, joined the Lions as a third-round pick (No. 72 overall) in the 2021 NFL draft out of NC State and has started all five games for the Lions this season, recording eight tackles and 2.5 sacks with four quarterback hits. Last season, he became the first Detroit interior defensive lineman to record 5.0 sacks in a season since Ndamukong Suh in 2014.
McNeill’s extension comes just two days after the Lions’ 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in which teammate Aidan Hutchinson injured his tibia and fibula. Hutchinson is expected to miss at least four to six months, and the Lions will look to McNeill to help mitigate Hutchinson’s absence in the pass rush.
“Listen, Mac showed up and he wasn’t happy with the way he played against Seattle, so he was a man on a mission before the bye week, coming out, and he was focused this week,” the Lions coach said. Dan Campbell, on Monday. “His mind was right, and he was going to be a factor in this game and that’s what we expect every week from Mac, it’s just that.
“So, yeah, how much? A lot. And he’s one of those players we’re going to lean on. He doesn’t have to be Superman, but we have to get him to show that every week, and he has that ability. He played a great game yesterday”.
