Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson Is “Thankful” He Wasn’t Taken 1st Overall

The Detroit Lions were at the mercy of what the Jacksonville Jaguars did in the 2022 NFL Draft. The team was very happy when in-state hero Aidan Hutchinson was available. Jacksonville took Georgia’s Travon Walker first overall leaving Hutchinson there for the taking. The two teams had a joint practice this week and Hutchinson expressed his feelings on being with the Lions.

Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson Loves Being On This Team

According to a report from All Lions, Hutchinson is happy the Jaguars took Walker.

“I’m happy here. Very thankful, very thankful,” Hutchinson told reporters. “I mean, it all worked out. It was divine timing. The way things went was the way things were supposed to go.”

Getting to stay in the state of Michigan made Hutchinson one of the most popular players on the roster instantly. The Lions are also thankful they took him. He finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and led all first-year players with 9.5 sacks. The team is hoping that he can build on this success in year two.

Defense Is The Question Mark

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has shown he can craft a great offense. While there are some questions at the wide receiver position, I would expect that the Lions’ offense is going to be near the top of the league again this year. The question is the defense. GM Brad Holmes retooled the secondary and is hoping for year two leaps from players like Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph. If the defense can even become league-average, it will go a long way in helping the team.

The Detroit Lions and Aidan Hutchinson have their sights set on the NFC North crown. Can they finally take the division and make a deep playoff run? Or will there be more heartbreak in Detroit?