Moments after announcing a three-year extension for left tackle Taylor Decker on Monday morning, Lions general manager Brad Holmes was asked about defensive tackle Alim McNeill.
"Yeah, he’s another one that Dan (Campbell) and I have talked about," Holmes said on 97.1 The Ticket. "He’s part of the foundation."
McNeill, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie contract on the heels of a breakout season in 2023. If the past few months are any indication, the Lions will try to lock him up before he reaches free agency. In addition to Decker, they've extended Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Graham Glasgow this offseason. The former four all had at least a year remaining on their respective contracts.
McNeill could well be next.
"He was part of our first draft, and again, we’ve gotten Penei done, we’ve gotten St. Brown done, and there’s plenty other guys within that draft class that have played key roles. But Alim, the way that he’s developed his game, he does everything right, he’s a total pro and he’s extremely talented. So he’s another one that, it’s about time. So we’ll get talks going at some point and hopefully try to get something done," said Holmes.
It would behoove the Lions to get it done soon. McNeill played at a Pro Bowl-caliber level for most of last season before a knee injury cost him four games in December -- the only games he's missed in his career -- and salaries at his position are soaring. There are 13 NFL defensive tackles making north of $20 million per season, all of whom signed their deals either this year or last, and 20 making north of $15 million.
McNeill was the sixth best interior defender in the NFL last season, per Pro Football Focus. The only players ahead of him were Dexter Lawrence, Aaron Donald, Quinnen Williams, Derrick Brown and Jalen Carter, all of them household names. Always stout against the run, McNeill also broke through as a pass rusher last year with a career-high 34 quarterback pressures and five sacks.
Asked this spring about being next in line for an extension in Detroit, McNeill said, "I’m just working, head down. Whatever happens, happens. I still have to play good to set myself up to even get any of that, so I’m not worried about that right now."
He said that if and when talks begin with the Lions, he told his agent, "Don't tell me."
It sounds like they'll begin soon enough.
"The market is so unpredictable," said Holmes. "It's constantly changing. To get (deals) done earlier than later helps out for all parties involved. And it’s really important for us an organization, we like to take care of our own."