Aidan Hutchinson should be frontrunner for NFL’s DROY

Last weekend, the Detroit Lions’ incredible bounce-back season came to a close with a 20-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The win marked the Lions’ first sweep of the Packers under 2nd-year head coach Dan Campbell, and got Detroit back into the win column (9-8 overall) for the first time since 2017 under Jim Caldwell (9-7 overall).

If one thing has become clear about the Detroit Lions’ first draft pick of 2022 (No. 2 overall pick, Aidan Hutchinson), it is that he is a star in the making. By season’s end, Michigan football legend Aidan Hutchinson should be the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Aidan Hutchinson’s first NFL season

After Aidan Hutchinson’s final season at Michigan — a year in which he led U-M to a 12-2 finish, a win over Ohio State, a Big Ten Championship, and finished as a Heisman runner-up — he was picked up by Detroit with the 2nd pick in the NFL Draft. At the beginning of the 2022-23 NFL season, Hutchinson was not off to a very hot start. That being said, Hutchinson caught on quickly and became one of the best edge players in the league.

So far this season, Aidan Hutchinson has recorded 34 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks, and three interceptions. For a rookie, these are incredible numbers, and have helped to take Detroit’s defense to the next level this year. In the Lions’ most recent win over the Packers, Hutchinson sacked Aaron Rodgers twice, which led to a 4-point win.

Hutchinson sticks out above the rest

Just as he did in college, Aidan Hutchinson stands out when compared to the other defenders in his class. Throughout this season, Hutchinson has both led rookie defenders and tied NFL records. Throughout 2022-23, here are the impressive achievements that Aidan Hutchinson has accomplished:

1. Leads all rookies in sacks (9.5)
2. First rookie in NFL history to have 9-or-more sacks, thee interceptions, and two fumbles recovered. Joins Richard Dent as as the only players to accomplish this feat in NFL history.
3. Second in tackles for loss among rookies
4. Second in Season PFF grade among rookies (81.5).
5. Leads NFL rookies in QB pressures and hits

As you can see, Aidan Hutchinson is one of the best players in the nation, even as a rookie. For Lions fans, Hutchinson is one of the most exciting prospects since Matthew Stafford in 2009, and after Detroit managed to turn a 1-6 start into a 9-8 finish, we could be in for even bigger and better in the years to come. One thing is for sure right now: Hutchinson is representing his alma matter well at the next level.

Stats sourced from ESPN and provided by Ethan Grant, an MSU student and contributor at Impact 89FM Sports.