Tag: Aidan Hutchison

Lions ranked among top three teams for 2024

The Lions rank among top teams for 2024

The Detroit Lions came as close as ever this season to making their first Super Bowl. Coach Dan Campbell said in the aftermath of the NFC title game loss to the 49ers that it is very unlikely this team makes it this far again based on how this league goes about things. After some critical personnel decided to stay in Detroit, and with their salary cap situation looking more positive than ever, perhaps Campbell was a tad critical.

In the wake of the Chiefs’ second straight Super Bowl win, the “NFL on Fox Podcast” discussed this week who the top teams are heading into the new season. They mentioned the Chiefs and 49ers at the top, which makes sense, but they threw in the Lions as their third-best team.

Campbell has shown he can be one of the best coaches in the league and can build a more-than-capable staff. Both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn could have left for head coaching jobs elsewhere but instead decided to stay in the Motor City to build something special.

Quarterback Jared Goff is returning for his fourth year with the team. The offense looks to be ready to keep growing, led by running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The defense, led by edge rusher Aidan Hutchison, is taking the necessary steps to get better.

With the right offseason moves by GM Brad Holmes, this team could easily jump past the 49ers in terms of expectations for next season.

5 Lions make initial 2024 Pro Bowl roster

5 Lions make initial 2024 Pro Bowl roster

The initial 2024 Pro Bowl roster has been announced and the NFC North division champions are well represented.

The roster is subject to change due to the results of the NFL playoffs but for now, five Lions made the initial roster. Sam LaPorta, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Aidan Hutchison, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin all were named to the roster but now were selected as starters.

Initial reaction on social media pointed to Amon-Ra St. Brown being left off despite his massive production. A.J. Brown of the Eagles, Ceedee Lamb of the Cowboys, Mike Evans of the Buccaneers, and Puka Nacua of the Rams were all selected ahead of him.

The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys led the way with seven selections followed up with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles with six. The Lions were joined by the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs with five.

Aidan Hutchinson continues to make Jaguars fans mad

Aidan Hutchinson and his fantastic early success in Detroit continues to make Jaguars fans mad

The 2022 NFL Draft was one of the few NFL drafts in recent history where the top pick was up in the air until the card was turned in. Fans and media knew the Jaguars would take an edge rusher but which one?

The major project with tremendous upside was Travon Walker out of Georgia or Aidan Hutchison who could make an impact on day one?

If you are a Lions fan you know how things played out. Travon Walker was drafted by the Jaguars and the Michigan native Aidan Hutchison “fell” to his home state team. Since that draft, the Jaguars have experienced an offensive renaissance but have been left behind in terms of pass rush. Compare that to the path the Lions have established and paved for themselves and that draft pick is a major part of each team’s story in 2023.

Aidan Hutchison is looking and playing like an All-Pro and is leading a gritty Lions defense. The defensive unit as a whole goes with the flow of Hutchison and in that they tend to play to their highest potential. That leadership cannot be measured but some of his leadership can be measured with stats.

The NFL media loves to push the hype and excitement factor that Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, and Nick Bosa but it appears they are missing out.

It is not just Jaguars fans missing out on a reliable pass rusher but it is the majority of NFL fans not realizing how special Hutchinson is so soon in his career. It isn’t just pressure though, he deflects passes, provides run coverage, and the total package he presents on defense should be reminiscent of another Watt defensive player.

That skill set, specifically the pass rush skills, will be needed over the next four games. The Lions will be facing off against the Buccaneers, Ravens, Raiders, and Chargers with being able to apply pass rush being a make-or-break approach to it all.

While Jaguars fans look for a pass rusher to emerge to help them, the Lions will lean on their reliable one to make it through a rough patch in the schedule.