Aidan Hutchinson Skyrocketing Up NFL Draft Projections
Apparently we're not the only ones taking notice of Aidan "Steve's Not My Father" Hutchinson and the dominating performances he's putting up. Woke up this morning to see that CBS now has him projected #2 overall to the Lions (insert various "oh God, anywhere but Detroit" jokes here...).
IMO, there are few things more enjoyable to watch on defense than a player absolutely wreaking havoc off the edge (see, e.g., "guns don't kill people, LaMarr Woodley kills people" and Brandon Graham completely destroying that MSU RB), and Aidan seems well on his way to joining that pantheon of absolutely elite Michigan DEs. So happy he decided to come back, and if he keeps this up, it's looking like he will be, too.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
Good for him. He seems like he will be a great player to design a pro defense around.
#aidan4heisman
September 15th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
Imagine if we had been able to land Karlaftis as well.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:34 PM ^
Aidan has so much potential on that D line. We are lucky to have him, and fortunate he came back another year. An exceptional leader that has the opportunity to take us to the promise land if everything on O clicks right.
September 16th, 2021 at 12:53 AM ^
I keep looking at this roster and thinking we're one year from potentially being elite (Bell back, WRs more experience, Corum in a contract year, basically the entire OL back, potential JJ breakout, most of the defense)...and then realize Hutchinson won't be back. Damn. Gonna enjoy watching him this year because yes, we're lucky he came back for this one.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
The thing is, we almost always have really talented players leaving that position group. Losing Aiden will definitely hurt, but the tide will rise overall as a lot of our less experienced DL return.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:37 PM ^
The DE position has far and away been the best position group under Harbaugh (and possibly in the country over the past 7 years). It has had great Anchor types in Wormley, Gary, even Kwity to an extent (also a good pass rusher), and great edge rushers in Chase and Taco.
I have to say though, I think Hutch is the best and most complete out of all of them, and that is saying something.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
For college (maybe not the NFL) I would still stick with Winovich as the best guy out of that group. He averaged about 65 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks over his final two years at Michigan.
For a comparison, Hutchinson has 14.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks for his entire career.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
You are correct, but Winovich did have Rashan Gary drawing attention on the other side and Maurice Hurst in the middle. Who are you going to block?
September 15th, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^
Hurst wasn't there the entire time.
I would block Winovich, and I would have at the time, too. Winovich has since started more games in the NFL and has more career sacks than Gary. Gary was certainly a formidable player, but he was not as good in college as Winovich, IMO.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:33 PM ^
I personally would have moved Gary inside to DT. Yeah, I know he didn't want to play there. But I think he missed his calling. His strength and speed inside would have been Hurst-like...
September 15th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
What I would do to have Mo Hurst on our line this year...
September 15th, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Considering that he only played in 3 games this year and has only played 2 games so far this year, I'm not sure that's an even comparison.
If Hutchinson manages to maintain his current level of play all seaon, he'll be more dominant than Winovich was his final year.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
Hutchinson had 13 tackles, 0 tackles for loss, and 0 sacks last year before getting injured.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
Those stats are true but completely ignore trustBlue's point about it being a tiny sample size especially with such high-variance events as TFL/sacks.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:31 PM ^
It's not a tiny sample size. In 24 career games, Hutchinson has 14.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks.
In 41 career games, Winovich had 43 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks.
If you double Hutchinson's games and production - even giving him 5 more games than Winovich - you're still only at 29 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
The production is higher. The rate of production is higher. Winovich was a two-time all-conference player, whereas Hutchinson has not been an all-conference player even once (he probably will be this year).
This really isn't even any kind of argument that Winovich was a more successful college player than Hutchinson has been. It's black and white.
September 15th, 2021 at 3:10 PM ^
Aren't 19 of those 24 games are from Hutchinson's Fr/So years? So you are comparing that to Jr/Sr Winovich, who also had the benefit of playing alongside Gary and perhaps avoiding doubles. Hutchinson is clearly the top guy on this line and would be the first to get double teamed. Not to mention, players definitely get better, especially after their freshman year that needs to be considered.
Winovich was fantastic but I'd take the trajectory Hutchinson is currently on.
September 15th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
Its still not an apples to apples comparison, because you are ignoring Aidan senior season which has barely started yet.
Winovich played for 5 years. His best season came as a 5th year senior when he had 69 total tackles, 17 for loss, and five sacks.
In comparison, Hutchinson had 68 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, six pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles in a single season as a (true) sophmore.
Last year, Aidan got injured after only 3 games.
So sure, if Aidan's career ended today, and you are comparing his total production to Winovich's completed 5th year, then you would have to give the overall edge to Winovich.
But if the reast of Aidan's season pans out anything like his current level of play, he'll have had the more dominant career for sure.
September 16th, 2021 at 6:18 AM ^
Okay, okay, you've convinced me...
If Aidan Hutchinson makes 28.5 more tackles for loss and 11.5 more sacks this season, then Winovich and Hutchinson will be equal in their production and I might have to reconsider.
Let's see, the school record for sacks is 12 and the school record for tackles for loss is 28.5.
So if Hutchinson finishes the 2021 season with school records of 32 tackles for loss and 15 sacks, then I will probably change my mind.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
Winovich? Over Brandon Graham? The gentleman in your user avatar picture would like a word with you. :-)
September 15th, 2021 at 2:33 PM ^
Brandon Graham is probably the best player in the history of football.
September 15th, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
Regardless of whether or not you're being hyperbolic, it's time for all of us to fully, and openly, embrace how great BG has been. I'm concede my bias -- lifelong, die-hard Eagles and Michigan fan.
That aside, BG's career is approaching fringe-HOF status. His floor is being an All-Time Eagle and an Eagles HOF lock. Having his number retired is not off-the-table. He's played more games than any other Eagles defensive lineman in history, dating back to 1933. BG is the proud owner of the undisputed greatest defensive play in Eagles History -- the strip sack of our beloved Tom Brady in the late-4th quarter of Super Bowl LII, just after the Eagles scored the go-ahead TD.
He's a Philly icon for his career arc. Philly loves BG, and it seems BG loves Philly. Originally (mis)labeled a bust. Tore his ACL in December of his rookie year. Fought back to return halfway through Year 2, only to be forced to play out-of-position as the Eagles switched to a 3-4 without having the right personnel. BG never complained. He never threw anyone under the bus. He channeled his inner Rocky Balboa - lifted himself off the canvas - and he fought back to become a perennial PFF All-Pro and a multiple-year team captain.
Sack stats don't tell the full story with BG. Having watched every single one of his NFL games, his decade-long run of dominance has gone somewhat unnoticed by the rest of the NFL fan bases. BG lives in the backfield. He can't be blocked 1-on-1, even to this day. He constantly forces pressures and QB hits. He is a TFL machine -- his 105 TFLs are 2nd all-time in franchise history.
A lot of us fondly remember BG for de-capitating a MSU RB. This past weekend against the Falcons, BG did the same thing(!) to Mike Davis. BG is 33, and I see few signs of him slowing down. To me (and maybe Magnus), he IS the best player in the history of football.
Love letter over.
September 15th, 2021 at 9:24 PM ^
You may want to switch that picture out for Alan Page. Or maybe Jim Thorpe.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Uhh sample size?
Covid year was a joke.
September 16th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
I would not take Winovich over Hutchinson. Winovich did not lose an entire year of his prime.
September 15th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
It’s been good but no way it’s the best in the nation. Not even the best in the conference. Ohio State had the Bosas and Chase Young. They also have 4 pretty good ones right now.
September 15th, 2021 at 9:13 PM ^
Josh Uche. I know not a DE. But impacted on the EDGE.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
The other thing that makes him terrific is that he is completely a team player and great leader. Precisely the kind of player you want on your roster.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
Hard to see a lot of teams left on the schedule leaving their tackle 1 v 1 on an island with Aidan. You want to take deep shots with a 7 step drop, you'll have to max protect.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
I don’t think you’ll see a lot of that going forward. I’ve already noticed that W Mich and Washington (2nd half) were dropping back and hitting quick routes. We are playing a soft coverage on wide receivers so far this year so that will be most teams plan going forward. I think you’ll see a lot of 3 step drops and quick slants and out routes. This is my non expert opinion, however.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
Those passes into a soft zone underbelly started when Michigan had accumulated a good sized lead. I'm sure they backed off a little to keep from getting blasted on a big, chunky scoring play. I'm okay with testing Dax if you want to neutralize Aidan...
September 15th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
I'll take the dinking and dunking routes all day. Hard to make a living throwing in tight windows and consistently move the ball all game. D line gets their hands up and we'll see some tipped passes going the other way.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
Last Saturday was an afternoon delight. I'm gettin so excited!
September 15th, 2021 at 12:58 PM ^
I always liked Clover Leaf over Afternoon Delight and Angelos. Just sayin'.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
My motto's always been "when it's right, it's right"
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?
September 15th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
Your username also works as commonly used metaphor for sex.
September 15th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
Not a prude, but I just like tunnels.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:34 PM ^
That’s bold - Clover Leaf is fine for a greasy spoon/diner, but Afternoon Delight is an Ann Arbor institution. Since work from home started last year, I’ve really missed my regular downtown lunch spots - AD being one of them
September 15th, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
I’m a greasy spoon type of guy. Fleetwood at 3AM….
September 15th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
"Insert various 'Oh God anywhere but Detroit' jokes here..."? You do realize the likely majority of readers here are probably Detroit fans?
September 15th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
That's probably why he said it.
For the record though the Lions draft Michigan players with about the same frequency that the Browns draft OSU players which is to say almost never. Denzel Ward was the first Buckeye of any significance they drafted in like forever.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
Never mind, misread your post. Interesting that the Browns draft tons of Michigan players and generally stay away from OSU.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:08 PM ^
Ironically as the Lions do with OSU players. Although I'm sure they'd like to get that Jeff Okudah pick back right about now.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
I'm one of him and I understand that sentiment.
That being said, I feel like one of the biggest mistakes over the past 40 years has been the Lions ignoring Michigan guys in the draft. We'll wait until they're nearing the end of their career to sign them (ex. Bubba Paris, Desmond and Larry Foote).
It's no coincidence that one of our most consistent OL in the past five years was Glasgow.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
Absolutely. And as a Lions fan, I wouldn't wish being drafted by this damn franchise on anyone. Although I'm hopeful they will at least show some life under Campbell. Seems like a guy people will go all out for.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:58 PM ^
I know he is playing OLB now but still feel like his NFL future is at DE. Not sure he's a great fit for Lions.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
Good news is he will not be drafted by the Lions because they will win enough meaningless games to put them out of the top 10 in the draft.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
I was going to write this. There's no way the Lions are inept enough to get the #2 pick. They are worse than that! They're inept enough to keep playing themselves out of #2 and into #8...
September 15th, 2021 at 3:08 PM ^
If Goff gets injured before they win a game, they'll go 0-17. That offense is limited and their run defense makes UWash look like the '85 Bears.
September 15th, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Michigan's track record of getting EDGE guys drafted is astounding. Last year, 247 had them only behind OSU over the past few years, in terms of guys drafted (and drafted high). They're on track for another first-rounder, and possibly a very high one. This is one thing this program has done very, very well under Harbaugh
September 15th, 2021 at 1:13 PM ^
If Detroit winds up with the second worst record in the league, I'd be shocked if they didn't reach and take a QB.