aidan hutchinson – Page 21

Five things to know about Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson

Aidan Hutchinson is no stranger to the Detroit Lions after growing up in metro Detroit and playing at the University of Michigan

So on Thursday night at the NFL Draft when the Lions were on the board with the second overall pick, he was thrilled to see the Detroit area code when his phone lit up.

“I knew that was definitely a deep sigh of relief from me and my whole family for sure,’’ Hutchinson said on Friday at a media briefing at the Lions facility in Allen Park.

An edge rusher, Hutchinson fills a need on Detroit’s defense and he couldn’t be happier to be playing near home.

Five things to know about Hutchinson:

1. He should be a good fit in the Lions’ defensive scheme. “I think the play style is just relentless, it’s nasty and it’s what the whole coaching staff was brought here under coach Campbell, that’s the mentality,’’ Hutchinson said. “I come in and bring that same mentality that’s why I’m a perfect fit for this scheme and the Detroit grit. I think I fit that mold.’’

2. He loved his pre-draft visit with the Lions. “Out of all the visits, the Lions was one of my most seamless ones because of how smooth it was and it was so easy to talk football and to communicate with all these coaches.’’ Hutchinson said. “I think that’s going to lead to some future success, for sure.’’

3. On Friday, after a flight in from Las Vegas and not much sleep, Hutchinson said it had not hit him yet that he was a Lion. “Just walking around the building today with my family, it’s just weird. Growing up I was a Michigan guy, I’m around Detroit sports so much,’’ Hutchinson said. “To think I’m a Lion seems like a wild dream to me, but now it’s kind of come true. It’s wild but I’m soaking it all in, I’m sure one of these days it’s going to hit me.’’

4. After following in his father’s footsteps at Michigan, Aidan is in uncharted waters now. His dad, Chris, was a Michigan captain who won Team MVP in his final season in 1992. Instead of playing in the NFL, Chris attended medical school and now works as an emergency room physician at Royal Oak Beaumont. “I’m starting to get into territory that my dad hasn’t even been in, it’s starting to get a little foreign for him, I’ll have to navigate this on my own,’’ Aidan Hutchinson said with a smile.

5. He grew up a Detroit sports fan but admitted he doesn’t have a ton of great memories from the Lions, mentioning the 0-16 season. He wasn’t born when the Lions won their last playoff game on Jan. 5, 1992. “I’ve been to a couple LIons games and the atmosphere is great. When the Lions are winning ball games it’s like happy wife, happy life,’’ Hutchinson said. “The fans are just so into it, so I just hope that we’ve got the right pieces coming in, the coaches are right, we have to get this ball rolling.’’

Holmes says qualities in Hutchinson, Williams have been overlooked

Lions GM Brad Holmes was all smiles after he was able to nab two players in the first round of the NFL draft that he considers game-changers.

With the second overall pick on Thursday night, the Lions drafted defensive end Aidan Hutchinson who played at Michigan. Then Holmes traded up to the 12th pick to select wide receiver Jameson Williams from Alabama.

Hutchinson was a no-brainer. He and DE Travon Walker were likely to go 1-2 in some order on Thursday night. Indeed, Walker was drafted by Jacksonville with the top pick.

Hutchinson had 14 sacks for the Wolverines last season. He’s a leader, a high-energy player. He seems like a perfect fit for a Dan Campbell coached team.

But, there’s more.

“I think what gets lost is how effective he is in the run game. It’s a three-down league and I think what he does in the run game is overlooked in a good way because of the sacks,’’ Holmes said.

Hutchinson, who played at Dearborn Divine Child, is a hometown favorite.

“I know he’ll make his mark in this community, he already has so it’s going to continue to trend up from here. We’re thrilled with what he’s going to bring to our organization,’’ Holmes said.

Holmes had looked before the start of the draft about trading up for Williams.

“This guy is tough, he’s gritty, he’s a dog, he loves football. He just fits what we’re about,’’ Holmes said.

He also thinks Williams has the ability to be a game-changer, but the Lions have to do their part to set him up for success.

Holmes would not share a timetable for Holmes’ return from injury — he tore his ACL in the national championship game.

“We feel very good with where we expect him to return,’’ Holmes said.

On Friday, the Lions have one second-round pick at 46th overall and one in the third round at 97th overall.

Hutchinson and Williams are expected at the Lions facility on Friday.

Lions trade up to draft WR Jameson Williams with 12th pick

The Lions saw no reason to wait around to grab a wide receiver. A deal with the Vikings allowed them to nab Jameson Williams, a wide receiver from Alabama, in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.

Detroit traded picks 32, 34 and 46 to the Vikings for the 12th and 46th picks in the NFL draft.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said Williams’ speed on the outside can dictate coverage which is what they were looking for.

“I feel really good about where he can play for us, what his best skillset is right now and where he can grow. He’s got untapped potential that we think we can get out of him,” Johnson said, noting that he can play in any receiver spot.

Johnson said Williams has game-changing ability. He called him a “fearless competitor.” Also said he’s a passionate guy which is one of the boxes the Lions hope to check with each pick.

Last season Williams (6-foot-2 and 190 pounds) grabbed 79 passes, ranking fifth in the FBS with 1,572 receiving yards and tied for third with 15 receiving touchdowns in 15 starts. He posted an FBS-best 11 touchdowns of 30-plus yards in 2021. He was named a first-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC receiver and Co-SEC Special Teams Player of the Year (10-352-35.2, two TDs kick returns), and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s top receiver.

He suffered an ACL tear against Georgia in the national title game. He said on Thursday night that he doesn’t have a timetable for when he’ll be ready to play but hopes to be ready for training camp.

Johnson said he is not sure how Williams’ injury affected his draft stock, but also said that once he is healthy defenses will notice his speed.

Williams said he didn’t have much conversation with the Lions in the pre-draft process.

“I see myself as being a big part of this offense,” Williams said in a media call.

Williams was the fourth wide receiver drafted. Drake London (USC) went No. 8, Garrett Wilson (Ohio State) was 10th and Chris Olave (Ohio State) went 11th.

According to his draft profile, Williams was able to eviscerate the cushion and blow by corners, his extra burst before route break forces coverage to bail out and separation feels inevitable on long-form patterns.

Earlier, with the second overall pick, the Lions drafted edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who played at Michigan.

“It feels great to be home, once again … It was Lions all the way, the whole draft process, I wanted them to pick me,’’ Hutchinson said during a virtual call with the Lions media.

Over and over again he said he is grateful the Lions picked him.

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Travon Walker (Georgia) with the first overall pick. Hutchinson said his agent told him on Wednesday that it was about 90% he would not go to Jacksonville.

“I picked Michigan when I was in high school (Dearborn Divine Child), and to have the opportunity to play at home in front of a lot of the same fans. I’m so grateful, I can’t tell you how excited I am,’’ Hutchinson said.