Entering his second NFL season, there is no question that Detroit Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson is right where he belongs.
The stars aligned perfectly for Hutchinson on draft night in April of last year, allowing the Michigan native to fall into the laps of his hometown Lions at No. 2 overall.
Only one team stood in the way of Hutchinson donning the Honolulu Blue: the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit’s joint practice opponent this week.
Instead of drafting the ex-Wolverines defensive lineman, the Jaguars opted to select Georgia EDGE Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick.
Despite being passed up by Jacksonville, Hutchinson told reporters Wednesday that he holds no hard feelings toward the Florida-based AFC South franchise.
“I’m happy here. Very thankful, very thankful,” Hutchinson expressed Wednesday, at the Lions’ Allen Park practice facility. “I mean, it all worked out. It was divine timing. The way things went was the way things were supposed to go.”
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is happy that the Jaguars selected Walker, but still heaped praise upon Hutchinson for his solid rookie season.
“Obviously a great player. Did our due diligence and really studied him and all the top EDGE rushers last year. And, the way he came out and played obviously in our game and the way he, what 9.5 sacks last year? Just a great performance for a young player, and obviously, the sky’s the limit,” Pederson said about Hutchinson. “He’s just going to continue to get better, and he really makes that defense a little more solid.”
Hutchinson outperformed Walker in year No. 1. He suited up for all 17 games, and most notably produced 9.5 sacks, which led all rookies in 2022. Meanwhile, Walker played in 15 games for the Jaguars, and amassed 3.5 sacks.
A season ago, Hutchinson – a product of Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Child High School – also compiled three interceptions, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. And, in doing so, he became the first rookie in NFL history to produce a season with at least 7.5 sacks, three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Source : si.co
