For the second straight year, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock. This year, however, their choice at No. 1 overall is significantly more difficult. They have their quarterback of the future in Trevor Lawrence, but a hard decision looms ahead: Do you go with the monster senior season of Aidan Hutchinson, the ridiculous athletic upside of Kayvon Thibodeaux or somewhere else with the first pick?
Heading into the 2022 NFL Combine, Hutchinson and Thibodeaux have built-in strong cases. Where Thibodeaux was thought to be a no-brainer first overall pick at the beginning of last college football season, Hutchinson has cast aspersions on that notion. Todd McShay has said teams have concerns about Thibodeaux's "motor," concerns that they certainly don't share with regard to Hutchinson, who built an entire brand at Michigan behind his undeniable will to win (and the stats to back it up).
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Before delving in to the Thibodeaux vs. Hutchinson debate, I'd like to note that the issues surrounding Thibodeaux are a tale as old as time. Jadeveon Clowney was a clear-cut first overall pick for the Texans in 2014, and despite months of hand-wringing about his work ethic he was taken No. 1 by Houston. There will always be conversations like this when a player misses time in his final amateur season. What Thibodeaux has that Clowney didn't, however, is a competitor at his own position. Khalil Mack ended up being a darling in that draft, but he rose up draft boards much later in the process.
With all that in mind, here's how Thibodeaux and Hutchinson compare on a superficial level. Size and stats come via official team websites.
| Player | Height | Weight | Tackles | Tackles for loss | Sacks |
| Thibodeaux (3 years) | 6-foot-5 | 258 lbs. | 123 | 35.5 | 19 |
| Hutchinson (4 years) | 6-foot-6 | 265 lbs. | 160 | 28 | 18.5 |
Thibodeaux had 41 tackles, 11.8 tackles for loss, and 6.3 sacks per season. Hutchinson had 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 4.6 sacks per season. While their numbers are comparable through that lens, Thibodeaux's final season was hampered by injuries.
Hutchinson was a Heisman finalist in the 2021 season, in which he registered 14 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss. He also forced a pair of fumbles. Michigan's surprising playoff appearance ultimately further bolstered Hutchinson's stock, despite the team being manhandled by Georgia in the Orange Bowl. Also worth noting: He shared the field with another Top 5 defensive end prospect in David Ojabo, another breakout star for Michigan last year.
Where teams decide to go between these two will likely come down to preference and values. Hutchinson is likely as large as he's going to get, he has good hands, his instincts at batting the ball down are superb, and he plays through the whistle. The knocks against him are that he struggles against the run, occasionally loses sight of play flow, and he may struggle against top-end tackles. That's an issue in the NFL, where a truly elite defensive end has to be able to make an impact on the game, even if opposing teams game plan to take him out of it.
Thibodeaux, on the other hand, plays strong off the ball, had two years of sustained success before having his junior season marred by injury, and can blow even elite tackles off the ball. Where he struggled is more in his hands, as once he's engaged he can struggle to fend off tackles. He also has work to do as an edge-setter, but that's more the norm for an end coming out of college.
You can see the difference in their respective playing styles here:
Kayvon Thibodeaux highlights
Aidan Hutchinson highlights
How these two square up at the Combine will tell us a lot about how the top of the draft will shake out. If Thibodeaux comes out and absolutely dominates the athleticism tests, there's a good chance that he'll go ahead of Hutchinson. If the two are close, however, Hutchinson's final year with the Wolverines might put him over the top.
