The Detroit Lions secured contract extensions for three key veterans this offseason, but one of their crucial defensive players, Alim McNeill, is also in need of a new deal.
McNeill’s rookie contract will expire after the 2024 season. On September 1, Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the fourth-best potential free agent for 2025 and projected him to be worth $90 million on a four-year extension.
“Interior defenders who excel at gap control, stopping ball carriers, and pressuring quarterbacks will always attract attention on the open market,” noted Bleacher Report. “At just 24 years old, McNeill is expected to draw significant interest in 2025, especially as many top defensive tackles like Cameron Heyward (36), Quinton Jefferson (32), and B.J. Hill (30) are approaching their later years.”
However, McNeill will need to build on his previous performance and stay healthy to remain a top free-agent target. He missed four games last season due to a knee injury.
Projecting Next Contract for DT Alim McNeill
“While McNeill might not reach the contracts of Christian Wilkins ($27.5 million annually) and Justin Madubuike ($24.5 million), he could come close given the increasing demand for quality defensive tackles,” Bleacher Report added.
In his 47 games with the Lions, McNeill has accumulated 112 combined tackles, including 15 for loss and 8 sacks. Last season, he recorded 32 combined tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in 13 games.
Contract predictions for Alim McNeill vary widely, with Bleacher Report’s $90 million projection being on the higher end.
On May 8, Josh Queipo and Kyle Dediminicantanio from A to Z Sports estimated McNeill’s value at $72 million over a four-year contract, which translates to a difference of $4.5 million per season compared to Bleacher Report’s forecast.
Christian Booher of Sports Illustrated provided an even lower estimate, valuing McNeill at $51 million for a three-year deal. This would result in a lower average annual salary ($17 million) compared to the $22.5 million and $18 million projections from Bleacher Report and A to Z Sports, respectively.
The accuracy of these predictions will largely depend on McNeill’s performance this season. While he has generally been healthy, missing four games last season due to injury could impact his value. To secure a top contract, McNeill will need to avoid injuries and improve on his career bests in sacks and quarterback hits. He recorded 5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in 2023.
Lions’ Salary Cap Situation Heading Into 2024 Season
Achieving a Pro Bowl nomination or All-Pro honors would also enhance his contract prospects. Despite his strong performance, McNeill has not yet made the Pro Bowl in any of his first three seasons.
The Lions are well-positioned financially as they approach the 2024 NFL season, holding the fifth-most salary cap space at approximately $49.2 million, according to Spotrac.
This offseason, the team committed substantial contract extensions to quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and offensive tackle Penei Sewell. These deals will start impacting the salary cap in 2025 and 2026.
Additionally, the Lions will need to address another key contract—defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s extension. Despite these upcoming commitments, the Lions should still be able to afford a deal for Alim McNeill, even if it falls on the higher end of projections.
For the 2025 season, Spotrac reports that the Lions are projected to have the sixth-most salary cap space, with about $85.4 million available.
