What happened: General manager Brad Holmes has negotiated several major contracts during his tenure building the roster for the Detroit Lions. While veteran defensive tackle Dj Reader departed to sign a two year, $12.5 million contract with the New York Giants, Alim Mcneill received a four year, $97 million extension. That significant investment faced scrutiny after Mcneill suffered an ACL tear early in the contract cycle, leaving his long term durability in question.

Why it matters: Writing off the extension due to bad health luck ignores how dominant Mcneill performed when occupying double teams and disrupting opposing backfields. The franchise structured his contract over multiple seasons specifically to allow him ample time to complete his rehabilitation and return to peak physical condition. With three full years remaining on the agreement, he possesses ideal age and elite interior leverage to justify the expenditure and solidify the defensive front for years to come.