Alim McNeill was as surprised as anyone when his agent called earlier this week to tell him he was close to getting a new contract with the Detroit Lions .
McNeill had long professed his desire to stay with the team that took him in the third round of the 2021 draft, but when the Lions first approached him about a new deal this spring he told his agent simply to let him know when it was done.
"I didn't really know when it was going to be cause I wasn't that locked in on that to be honest," McNeill said Wednesday. "And then my agents called me, I think two days ago, and then things were getting more serious and I'm like, 'OK, this is getting a little crazy.' Then the next day it happened, so I'm like, 'Oh yeah.'"
McNeill officially signed a four-year extension worth up to $97 million Wednesday that makes him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL.
HEAD OF THE CLASSES: Detroit Lions' latest splurge on Alim McNeill shows just how good 2021 draft class was
The deal includes $55 million in practical guarantees.
McNeill said that's life-changing money, but insisted it's nothing that will change his life on the field.
"As far as me, myself, it's not going to change who I am, the person I am of coming here every day and work like I did beforehand," he said. "But it obviously changes a lot of different things. But, me as a person, I’m just going to remain the same."
McNeill, 24, has been a staple of the Lions' defensive front the past four seasons, starting 41 of his 52 games played and racking up 10½ sacks.
He had a breakout five-sack season last year, when he missed four games with a knee injury, and had two sacks in the Lions' 47-9 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys last week.
"He’s a pivotal piece here for us and he’s one of our pillars here," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "No different than these guys that we’ve signed back, so we’re fired up for him. He’s playing at a high level and he’s going to have to continue."
The Lions, 4-1 and in second place in the NFC North entering this week's division showdown with the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, are counting on McNeill to play an even bigger role on their injury-riddled defensive line going forward.
The Lions have lost starting defensive ends Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to injuries, likely for the season, and backup defensive tackle Kyle Peko is out for the year after tearing his pectoral muscle last week.
McNeill, who was watching an episode of the 2000s sitcom "Reba" when he got the call from his agent that his contract was done, said he and everyone in the Lions' defensive line room feel like they have to contribute more in Hutchinson's absence.
"I do feel like I need to play that way (I played last week) and I feel like I can do that," he said. "That's what I do as a player. When I'm locked in, I'm honed in on my keys so I do expect that for myself. But that’s how we all feel. We’re going to have to step up in different areas and pick up slack in different areas that 97 (Hutchinson) had. And everybody knows who 97 is. He does a lot for us. But yeah, we're definitely accepted in the challenge, we're ready for it and we're going to be prepared, we're going to be ready to go."
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" at 7 p.m Monday at 24 Seconds Bar & Grill in Berkley, and from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at Stadium Cards & Comics in Ypsilanti.
Order your copy here.
Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions DT Alim McNeill: New contract won't change who I am on the field
Local News
Comments / 0