DETROIT — Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeil has agreed to a four-year contract extension, according to his agent, Mike McCartney at Vayner Sports.
McNeill’s deal is worth $97 million, including $55 million guaranteed, a 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 and offensive tackle Amon-Ra St. Brown. Penei Sewellboth of whom reached extensions during the offseason.
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 believed in getting ahead of contract negotiations and rewarding top players for their efforts, which sends a message in the locker room.
“The market is going to change. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We 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 tied down, 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 will happen next week, next month?
McNeill, 24, joined the Lions as a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft from NC State and 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 win over the Dallas Cowboys in which his teammate Aidan Hutchinson fell with a fractured tibia and fibula. Hutchinson is expected to miss at least four to six months, and the Lions will look for McNeill to help alleviate Hutchinson’s absence in the pass rush.
“Listen, Mac came in and Mac wasn’t happy with the way he played against Seattle, so he was a man on a mission before the bye, coming out, and he was locked up this week,” said the Lions coach Dan Campbell. 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, that’s exactly it.
“So yeah, how many? A lot. And he’s one of those guys we’re going to lean on. He doesn’t have to be Superman, but we have to take that away from him every week, and he owes that ability. I I played a hell of a match yesterday.
