Like if life couldn't get any harder for the Chicago Bears in the NFC North, it just did.
The Detroit Lions and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson have agreed on a four-year, $180 million contract extension, Hutchinson's agent Mike McCarthy told ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. Hutchinson will be guaranteed $140 million and is now the second-highest average annual salary among defensive players at $45 million, just $1 million behind Micah Parsons.
Chicago will have to suffer through more years of Hutchinson with the Lions
It's safe to say that Hutchinson has been a thorn in the Bears' backs since he joined the NFL in 2022. In five matchups against Chicago, Hutchison has recorded at least a half sack in each game, totaling 4.5 sacks with 22 tackles and an interception against them.
The Bears now have to start thinking about the future at the offensive line. Obviously, the most important position is at left tackle, which has been unstable this season with Braxton Jones starting the season there before Theo Benedet took over.
While Benedet shows some promise, he's not a consistent enough pass protector to be considered a long-term solution. Jones will most likely not be on the Bears beyond this season, as he was a subject of trade talks until being placed on the IR.
Expect Bears general manager Ryan Poles to either look for a potential new left tackle at the trade deadline or wait until the offseason to look in free agency and the draft for options. Poles' hand is being forced now that each of the NFC North teams has solid edge rushers in Parsons, Hutchinson, and Jonathan Greenard.
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This is where Poles makes the big bucks and needs to put his money where his mouth is by making a splash play for a left tackle worth keeping for the next five to 10 years. Maybe Hutchinson's new deal will inspire him to get it done sooner rather than later.