What are your expectations for Aidan Hutchinson’s rookie season?

The Detroit Lions have lacked a star move rusher for years, however can Aidan Hutchinson fill that void?

Because of a dominant 2021 marketing campaign the place he recorded 16.5 sacks in 14 video games on the College of Michigan, the Heisman runner-up vaulted himself atop many draft boards. Fortunately for the Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t one such workforce, as an alternative opting to take Georgia move rusher Travon Walker. That left Hutchinson to fall to his hometown Lions. It’s a dream come true to Hutchinson, and the Lions are fairly proud of the consequence as properly, having wasted no time submitting their choose.

Hutchinson ought to instantly step into a large function on protection. On account of an Achilles damage, the Lions had been with out Romeo Okwara for many of the 2021 season. Charles Harris stepped up in an enormous means, tallying eight sacks and incomes himself a two-year, $13 million contract. Okwara and Harris will seemingly be necessary items on protection, however they every have questions getting into the season. Will Okwara return to type? Can Harris duplicate his lone productive season as a professional?

Hutchinson was typically in comparison with the brothers Joey and Nick Bosa, and there’ll little doubt be strain to match their manufacturing. Each brothers received their respective Defensive Rookie of the Yr title, with Joey recording 10.5 sacks and Nick totaling 9. From a profile perspective, Hutchinson compares extra favorably to Maxx Crosby, however he too shined as a rookie to the tune of 10 sacks.

There might be strain to match different prime draft picks as properly. Micah Parsons exploded onto the scene in 2021, incomes himself a unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Yr choice in addition to a primary workforce All-Professional spot. Chase Younger excelled in his 2020 rookie marketing campaign, though an ACL damage slowed him in 2021. Hutchinson is presently favored for the Defensive Rookie of the Yr award, though being mere days faraway from the draft means it’s primarily based extra on hypothesis than advantage.

Hypothesis is all we are able to do as coaching camp approaches. Are your expectations tempered for the rookie defensive finish, or are they sky-high to match his potential?

At present’s Query of the Day is:

What are your expectations for Aidan Hutchinson’s rookie season?

My reply: My expectations are decrease than most, primarily as a result of I don’t wish to overhype what continues to be a rebuilding 12 months. I count on Hutchinson to be a 700+ snap participant with over six sacks if he stays wholesome.

These numbers aren’t lofty by any means, however I count on the Lions to be affected person with him. The rationale why I count on a slower rookie season for Hutchinson is the expertise surrounding him. The Lions haven’t shied away from a move rush rotation underneath defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and that’s unlikely to vary in 2022.

Together with Okwara and Harris, the Lions even have Julian Okwara (5 sacks), Austin Bryant (5 sacks), and Jessie Lemonier (2 sacks) at defensive finish. Coupled with defensive linemen Michael Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike, and Alim McNeill, and there might be no scarcity of move dashing potential. This doesn’t even embody their 2022 draft picks, because the Lions added Josh Paschal and James Houston. Whereas they’re various kinds of move rushers from Hutchinson—Paschal has inside versatility and Houston is a rush linebacker—they might nonetheless be a part of the rotation alongside the entrance seven.

There’s no assure all of those gamers make the ultimate 53-man roster, nevertheless it illustrates the depth alongside the line of defense. In 2021, Harris led the defensive ends with 871 snaps performed. Nevertheless, his elevated play time got here largely attributable to Romeo Okwara’s damage. Julian Okwara and Bryant mixed for nearly 800 snaps final season, whereas the oft-injured Trey Flowers managed 302 snaps.

There are loads of snaps to account for, however I count on a reasonably balanced rotation, not less than to start out the season. If one participant catches hearth, they they might see their function develop, very similar to Harris in 2021. Hutchinson may simply blossom into the Defensive Rookie of the Yr and star we envision him to be, however I received’t set myself up for disappointment with lofty targets. This rebuild requires endurance, and I consider we should always do the identical with Hutchinson.

Your flip.