2022 Stat Prediction for Aidan Hutchinson

The Detroit Lions obtained their man at No. 2 general within the 2022 NFL Draft in Michigan native Aidan Hutchinson, an enormous improve for the group’s lackluster pass-rushing unit.

The EDGE defender and Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Baby Excessive College product comes into the NFL with the make-up of a perennial Professional Bowl-caliber cross rusher, and expectations subsequently are by the roof for the 21-year-old going into his rookie season.

He is coming off a career-best marketing campaign throughout his ultimate season on the College of Michigan, throughout which the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder amassed a single-season program document 14 sacks. The yr included a career-high three-sack recreation in Michigan’s upset victory over Ohio State.

Hutchinson did the whole lot he might to construct up his standing as the highest prospect within the 2022 draft class, and he was simply that, in keeping with many pundits, for almost all of the pre-draft course of.

However, then April 28 rolled round, and with the No. 1 general choose, the Jacksonville Jaguars opted to pick out fellow EDGE Travon Walker as an alternative. It allowed Hutchinson to fall proper into the laps of the Lions — and delightfully so for Detroit normal supervisor Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell — at No. 2.

Now, he is anticipated to “restore the roar” for a Lions franchise that gained simply three video games a season in the past. It is a fairly hefty ask for a first-year professional, however there is no denying that the expertise is there for the doubtless game-changing EDGE rusher.

Professional Soccer Focus has gone as far as projecting Hutchinson to document 57.0 pressures, 9.4 sacks and 16.5 run stops in 2022, the positioning’s finest statistical projection for an EDGE defender from the ’22 draft class. That will equate to a greater season than the one produced final yr by veteran Detroit EDGE Charles Harris, who logged a team-best 7.5 sacks.

As PFF’s Eric Keen explains concerning Hutchinson,

“In 2021, Hutchinson positioned within the 98th percentile in PFF pass-rushing grade amongst gamers who ultimately performed within the NFL, the 99th percentile in pass-rush grade on ‘true cross rushes,’ the 97th percentile in pass-rush grade on cross performs with out play motion, the 98th percentile in general pass-rush win charge and the 99th percentile in run-defense grade.”

I am not as excessive on the first-year professional, however I am prepared to foretell the next numbers for Hutch: 7.5 sacks, 54 complete pressures and 62 complete tackles.

If he produces the aforementioned numbers as a rookie, I believe it is truthful to say Detroit’s front-office brass and fanbase could be happy.