The Detroit Lions absolutely struck gold when they landed Aidan Hutchinson in the 2022 NFL Draft. And they lucked out, too, as the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to go with fellow edge rusher Travon Walker with the pick before, and Walker hasn't had the same kind of success Hutchinson has.
Over his first two seasons, Hutchinson has tallied 21 sacks, including a career-best 11.5 in 2023. He already has one Pro Bowl nod under his belt and he was second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022.
After two impressive campaigns to start his career, Hutchinson is closing in on the league's elite pass-rushers, according to Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema, who placed the Michigan product at No. 6 on his list of the best edge rushers.
Hutchinson ascended to an elite level in his second season, earning a 91.4 pass-rush grade. His 101 quarterback pressures in the regular season ranked second only to Micah Parsons. His pass-rush win rate also leaped from 12.2% in 2022 to 21.3% in 2023.
The five edge rushers ahead of Hutchinson from No. 1 to No. 5 were as follows:
- Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
- Micah Parson, Dallas Cowboys
- Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
- T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
No issue with where Sikkema has Hutchinson ranked, as there's no arguing that the third-year pro has more to prove before he can surpass any of those guys. Not to mention, being ranked ahead of the likes of Khalil Mack, Josh Allen and Trey Hendrickson is a fantastic compliment.
Hutchinson has a great shot to have a huge year in 2024. Not only did the Lions add Marcus Davenport and D.J. Reader to a defensive line that also sports Alim McNeill, they've also beefed up the secondary with Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis, which should help give Hutchinson more time to get after the quarterback.
