Lions' Mayhew: Franchise tag an option with Suh

The Detroit Lions want Ndamukong Suh back, and they're willing to go to almost any length to keep him.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said Thursday that he hasn't ruled out using the franchise tag to keep Suh in Detroit next season if the two sides can't come to an agreement on a new long-term contract.

"We're going to leave every option open," Mayhew said at his season wrap-up news conference. "We're not going to get into the plusses and minuses of anything in terms of working this out. I think it's important for you guys to know that we want him back and we are willing to franchise him, transition him, whatever, but not get into the details of each tactic."

Suh's rookie contract voids five days after the Super Bowl and he's seeking a deal that will make him one of the highest paid defensive players in the league.

The Lions did not come close to meeting Suh's contract demands before tabling talks at the start of training camp, and have only seen his price tag rise in recent months.

J.J. Watt signed a massive six-year, $100-million deal in September to become the highest paid defensive player ever, Gerald McCoy inked a seven-year, $98-million extension as the league's best paid defensive tackle, and Suh, who turned 28 on Tuesday, is coming off the best season of his career.

He led the Lions with 8.5 sacks (and had two more in last week's playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys) and was the biggest reason the team finished first in the NFL in rushing defense.

If the Lions use the franchise tag to restrict Suh's movement in free agency, it would cost a whopping $26.7 million.

Mayhew said he met with Suh when players cleared out their lockers on Monday and reiterated his desire to keep the three-time All-Pro in Detroit on a long-term deal.

Free agency opens at 4 p.m. March 10, Suh can begin negotiating with other teams March 7, and teams can place the franchise or transition tag (which in Suh's case would cost the same $26.7 million) on players from Feb. 16-March 2.

"I think the fact that I think he really enjoys playing for Coach (Jim) Caldwell benefits us in pursuing him and trying to get him to come back to us," Mayhew said. "He likes to win, I know that. I know he likes Coach Caldwell. I know he's very comfortable here in Detroit. So those things all play in our favor.

"At the end of the day, you know, though, money talks so we have to step up in terms of pursuing him financially as well."

Until Suh's future is decided, the Lions will have their hands somewhat tied in what they can do this off-season.

Mayhew said he expects the salary cap to go up about $10 million, to around $143 million, and that the Lions will be able to "do some things in free agency and we can acquire some players" no matter what happens with Suh.

But if Suh insists on testing free agency, the Lions will be sitting on a wealth of cap space with tough decisions to make on how best to spend it.

"I think it would benefit us to have an idea kind of where we're going with (Suh) because obviously it requires a certain amount of room to get that deal done, it requires a certain type of cash commitment to get that deal done," Mayhew said. "It would slow other things down if that wasn't done, or if we were uncertain about whether it would get done or not."

The Lions have 19 unrestricted free agents on their roster besides Suh, though most are veteran-minimum type players. Among starters, Nick Fairley, Dominic Raiola, Rob Sims and Rashean Mathis also will be free agents in March, and Mayhew declined to say whether he hopes to bring any of them back.

Suh said last summer he wants to stay with the Lions, but he's referred more recent questions about his contract to agent Jimmy Sexton and declined to talk about his future after the Cowboys game.

The Lions are expected to restart contract talks with Suh later this month. Until then, both sides will be waiting with bated breath.

"He certainly is a big priority for us and he's an important part of our football team the last five years and I think the world of him," Mayhew said. "We had an opportunity to sit down and talk with him on Monday. We had a good conversation, and we look forward to working with him to try to get a deal done."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.