The Detroit Lions do not want Ndamukong Suh to leave in the offseason.

General manager Martin Mayhew said the team will negotiate aggressively with the free agent defensive tackle; but, if talks break down, the Lions are prepared to use either the franchise tag or transition tag to retain Suh’s services.

“He certainly is a big priority for us, and he’s (been) an important part of our football team the past five years and I think the world of him,” Mayhew said. “We’ll leave every option open in terms of dealing with him.”

Using the franchise tag on Suh would cost the Lions $26.9 million toward the 2015 salary cap, plus $9.7 million in remaining bonus proration, according to the Detroit News.

Franchise tags and transition tags can be announced from Feb. 16 to March 2. Players receiving the franchise tag are tied to their team for the coming season. Players who receive the transition tag can negotiate with other teams, but their original team retains the right to match any offer.

Suh, 28, figures to land an enormous contract in the offseason. He helped Detroit lead the league in rushing defense, and he finished with a team-high 8.5 sacks, then added two in the wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Benchmarks for a possible contract include the richest-ever deal for a defensive player, six years and $100 million for Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, and seven years and $98 million for Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

“I think the fact that 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.”

In addition to his on-field production, Suh is known for questionable in-game tactics. Over his career, he has paid more than $420,000 in fines. After stomping on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the regular-season finale, Suh nearly was suspended for the playoff game against Dallas before an arbitrator changed the penalty to a fine.