The ongoing contract sage involving the Detroit Lions and Ndamukong Suh is not likely to end any time soon as the club is not optimistic an extension will be worked out with the Pro Bowl defensive tackle, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Lions are not optimistic about signing Ndamukong Suh to a new contract. He enters camp counting 22,412,500 against sal cap.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) July 24, 2014
An extension would create some room in the salary cap and give the club some flexibility to make additions in the event of injury during the season and more importantly, prevent him from leaving Detroit in his prime.
The 6-4, 307-pound Suh is 27 years old and has been named to three Pro Bowl teams and is coming off his second season where he was named an All-Pro.
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His first appearance on the All-Pro team came his rookie season in 2010 when the Lions spend the No. 2 overall pick on the former defensive tackle from Nebraska.
Mortensen also tweeted that the fallback option for the Lions would be applying the franchise tag on Suh, but that price may be too expensive for the Lions.
If Lions can't get Suh signed, his franchise tender would be $26.7 million in 2015 - or he becomes a unrestricted free agent in his prime
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) July 24, 2014
If Suh hits the open market, you can expect a bidding war for one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL and could receive a staggering sum of money that could approach the $100 million mark.
Suh had 5.5 sacks last season and 48 combined tackles last season. He has only missed two games in his four-year career, totaling 27.5 career sacks.