McNiell has been one of the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL in the last couple seasons and he just keeps getting better. He just had a huge game against the Cowboys on Sunday that saw him log seven pressures and two sacks. The Lions locking him down felt like a no brainer in the offseason. They didn’t get it done then, but they got it done it now.
This is just more continuation of the Lions showing players that they’re going to pay their guys and take care of them in every way. It’s just a huge sign of the culture that Detroit has right now.
It also feels like it could be a sign of something to come. The Lions didn’t have to knock these all out right now, but here we are 20 days away from the trade deadline and suddenly the Lions are getting all their ducks in a row.
It almost feels like all of this is happening so the Lions know what they have to work with going into the November deadline. While the total numbers aren’t out for either player yet, I wouldn’t at all be shocked to see that both players 2024 salaries have been adjusted and that their deals are back loaded. I think the Lions were planning to make a move before Sunday, but now I think that move might be more significant.
I’m not saying the Lions are trading for Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett, but I do think it’s possible they make a move for more than one guy and they’re clearing up some more 2024 cap space to do so.
We’re going to see very soon what they plan to do, but all their big deals are done at the moment. At least the ones that have to be done right now. Aidan Hutchinson’s deal is still looming. That’s going to be a massive deal. You could make a case that the Lions are planning things out so they can meet the high price there, but if that were the case, would they do it right before the trade deadline? I don’t know.
What I do know is that the Lions say that they’re looking and Adam Schefter sort of teased that someone is calling looking to see what the Lions are willing to pay in a trade. Something might be going down pretty soon.