Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions want to get long-term extension done
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) sits on the bench before the game against the New York Giants at Ford Field. Giants beat the Lions 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the league, especially when you look at his ability to penetrate through the interior of an offensive line and put quick pressure on the quarterback. The speed at which a pass rusher is able to put pressure on a passer is crucial, because that’s a direct measure of how talented they are. Suh gets pressure at an incredibly quick rate due to his blend of explosiveness and strength, and it’s almost ridiculous how good his physical tools are as one of the game’s premier interior rushers. It’s also encouraging to see that, with four seasons in the league, the Lions star DT has also become more patient against the run. With smarter play combined with his rare athletic gifts, Suh is becoming a very scary run defender as well.
It’s definitely in the best interests of the Detroit Lions to lock up the 27-year-old Nebraska player, with all the narratives regarding his dirty play being irrelevant and, quite honestly, exaggerated by the league (it’s pretty annoying how he’s demonized and how many ticky-tack fines he accrues nowadays).
According to MLive.com’s Kyle Meinke, both the Lions and Ndamukong Suh have interest in getting a deal done, and the Lions have already started talks with Suh about getting a long-term extension done. His contract ends after the 2015 season, and he has a cap hit of $22.4 million next season; that’s not something the Lions want to be on the hook for.
It will be interesting to see how talks progress, as the Lions are definitely willing to sign star players to big contracts in order to keep them in the organization; Suh is obviously a guy worth keeping for a long time.