March 2 Could Be Cutoff For Negotiations Between Lions, Suh; What Would It Take To Keep Him?
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - On March 7, any NFL team can enter into negotiations with the agent of four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. In the meantime, the Detroit Lions are still the only team that can formally work on a contract with Suh, whom the team has been candid about seriously pursuing.
One person in the business said the Lions will need to offer Suh the same deal received by Houston Texans superstar defensive end J.J. Watt -- six years for $100 million, with $51.8 million guaranteed.
If Suh hits the open market, the person suggested, his contract could blow Watt's deal out of the water, making Suh one of the most highly paid players in the NFL with only five or six quarterbacks making more.
The Lions have been adamant in their resolve to hold onto Suh, and general manager Martin Mayhew has not ruled out the possibility of using the franchise tag to do so. Franchising Suh would keep him around for one more season whether he wants to stay or not.
Feb. 16 is the earliest a team can use the franchise tag, and March 2 is the deadline to do so.
The Lions would prefer to sign Suh to a long-term deal, but Mayhew's suggestion that the Lions could use the franchise tag suggests the team is willing to keep Suh for the short term if that is the only option.
Since March 2 is the last day the Lions can use the franchise tag, that date may also serve as the deadline for the team and Suh to come to a long-term agreement. Suh could still sign a long-term deal after the franchise tag deadline passes, but if the Lions have not secured his services by then, they cannot guarantee they will be able to keep him.
Mayhew said after the season he believes it bodes well for the team that Detroit enjoyed 11 wins in the 2014 season under new head coach Jim Caldwell, who received rave reviews from players, but Mayhew knows that will only go so far in convincing Suh to stay.
"Those things all play in our favor," Mayhew said. "At the end of the day, though, money talks, so we have to step up in terms of pursuing him financially as well."
Though Suh has always spoken positively about his time in Detroit and the possibility of remaining with the Lions, it has been widely speculated that he wants to explore his options. ESPN reported in September that Suh would strongly consider playing for a New York team because of what the media exposure could do for his brand.
Bleacher Report issued a story Friday that Suh would love to sign with the Seattle Seahawks because Suh is from that area of the country. On the other hand, an ESPN report on Feb. 1 listed Detroit as the favorite to land Suh.
Suh reportedly wants to go to a team that has a chance to win, but with his aspirations of one day being a billionaire, it seems reasonable to think Suh also wants to get the most lucrative contract he can.
