The Detroit Lions have made a commitment to reward their own players, and it's been clear defensive tackle Alim McNeill's time would come soon. That time was Tuesday night, as his agent Mike McCartney first revealed to the world the Lions and McNeill had agreed to a four-year contract extension.
According to multiple reports, the four-year pact is worth $97 million with $55 million guaranteed. The $24.25 million per year average makes McNeill the fourth-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, behind only Chris Jones ($31.75 million/year), Christian Wilkins ($27.5 million/year), and Nnamdi Madubuike ($24.5 million/year). All three are at least three years older than McNeill, who is 24.
McNeill was a third-round pick by the Lions in 2021, the first draft class of the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime, and he is in the final year of his rookie deal. He is the sixth player the team has signed to a contract extension since late-April, and the third from that first draft class, joining Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell.
McNeill is coming off his best game of the season in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, with two sacks and seven pressures (according to Pro Football Focus). He had a sack and six pressures in the Lions' Week 4 over the Seattle Seahawks (also according to PFF). Official stats have 2.5 sacks for McNeill so far this season.
McNeill is PFF's sixth-highest graded interior defensive lineman since the start of last season (tied for sixth-best so far this season).
Campbell pointed to McNeill as someone he expects to step up with Aidan Hutchinson out.
"He was a man on a mission before the bye, coming out, and he was locked in this week. His mind was right, and he was going to be a factor in this game and that's what we expect every week out of Mac, is just that," Campbell said, via Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News. "So yeah, how much (will we rely on him)? A lot. And he's one of those guys we're going to lean on. He doesn't have to be Superman, but we've got to get that out of him every week, and he's got that ability."
Holmes and Campbell have both talked about McNeill as a core player they were intent on keeping. It was just a matter of time before the deal got done, and it's well earned as McNeill has become one of the best defensive tackles in the league over the last couple seasons.
