2022 NFL Draft: Top Picks Lead Charge For Defensive Rookie Of The Year
By Kyle Edmond
No. 3: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions were gifted Aidan Hutchinson with the season pick. Long considered the top pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson was passed on by the Jaguars for Travon Walker. Both should be solid NFL talents, but Hutchinson seems like the better prospect.
With that being said, he still isn’t the top player on this list. That’s because of the supporting cast around Hutchinson. Offensive lines can focus on a strong player like Hutchinson and make sure he doesn’t have an impact. A supporting cast draws that attention away and opens up chances for players like Hutchinson.
Now, Hutchinson is still a great talent and will make an impact regardless. But doing so on his own, without a supporting cast, is going to limit his chances at a rookie award. This isn’t to discount Michael Brockers or any other Lions on the line, but Hutchinson is going to be targeted by protection schemes.
If Hutchinson posts a typical season based on his expectations, that will be enough to get into this conversation. However, he’s going to need some external help if he wants to collect this award. It’s possible to do on his own, but it will be a tough task.