Detroit Lions: The perfect 3-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
By Bob Heyrman
With the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Aidan Hutchinson.
Following his stellar season with the Michigan Wolverines, Aidan Hutchinson launched himself into the conversation of being the first overall pick in 2022. Hutchinson had a memorable season recording a team-leading 14 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, plus finished third on the Wolverines with 62 total tackles. Hutchinson also forced two fumbles along with defending three passes.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Hutchinson played to a spectacular 94.5 overall grade in 2021. That grade includes an elite pass-rush mark of 93.3, followed by a 90.8 grade defending the run through 794 defensive snaps. That is the best overall grade PFF-College has ever given to a college player.
Hutchinson is a remarkable pass-rusher that plays the run just as effectively. Hutchinson is a three-down edge-rusher and is exactly what the Detroit Lions are missing. There is no shortage of effort to Hutchinson’s game which is the cherry on top. I feel that Hutchinson would be the perfect prospect for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell as they continue to change the culture around the organization.
Unfortunately, Hutchinson capped off his special season having a down day in Michigan’s National Championship semi-final game against Georgia. Hutchinson earned an overall grade of 70.8 for his work against the Bulldogs, his second-worst rating of the season. Hutchinson failed to record a sack in the blowout loss and generated just one pressure. His 62.5 pass-rush grade against Georgia had been the worst in 2021.
Many people seem to assume that Hutchinson has played his way into being the first overall pick, but I feel that much of the hype around the city is due to the fact he’s a local product. I would not be shocked to see the Jacksonville Jaguars select Kayvon Thibodeaux first, allowing Hutchinson to fall right into Detroit’s lap.