By Nick Brinkerhoff
For the Detroit Lions, it was a match made in heaven. With the second overall pick, they selected Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, a native of the Great Lake state. Hutchinson is known for his high motor and has found a home in the Motor City. Considered the top player available on many draft boards, the Lions got a gift when the Jaguars elected to select Travon Walker instead. This was about as close to a no-brainer pick as possible for a Detroit team in desperate need of top end talent.
Hutchinson was the Heisman runner up in 2021 as well as Michigan’s team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. The first team All-American added plenty of hardware to his trophy case in 2021, being recognized for countless awards. After a 2020 season cut short by injury, Hutchinson poured in 14 sacks in the 2021 campaign, good enough to make him a Comeback Player of the Year co-recipient as well. His greatest moments came during a program defining 42-27 victory over rival Ohio State when he tallied 12 hurries and three sacks.
Hutchinson’s size, strength, and athleticism makes him a fit in any defense, especially as a coveted edge rusher, arguably the most important defensive position in the modern NFL. For a Lions team on the rise, Hutchinson promises to be a foundational building block for head coach Dan Campbell in 2022.