NFC Scout thinks Aidan Hutchinson could set records in 2023
We've talked all summer long about the Detroit Lions hype train and how the national sports media seems to be riding on it with no seatbelts. Well, they're not the only ones. People in the league are believing in the Lions too. NFL insider Matt Lombardo recently spoke with some NFL personnel around the league […]
We've talked all summer long about the Detroit Lions hype train and how the national sports media seems to be riding on it with no seatbelts. Well, they're not the only ones. People in the league are believing in the Lions too.
NFL insider Matt Lombardo recently spoke with some NFL personnel around the league about which second year players could be in for a big season. He got answers on two Lions, but the answer he got from an veteran NFC scout on Aidan Hutchinson blew me away.
"He had a really nice rookie year, but I think Aidan Hutchinson is going to really breakout. I'm not saying he's Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, or those guys. But, I think he'll take a big step, I wouldn't be surprised if he has 15 or 20 sacks this year."
15 to 20 sacks is no joke at all. 15 would tie the Lions all time record that Robert Porcher set in 199 and 20 would come pretty close to the all time NFL record of 22.5 that Michael Strahan set in 2001. These aren't just regular seasons we're talking about here. This is top of the league type stuff. The kind of thing that a players wins Defensive Player of the Year for.
If you're asking me, I think he hits somewhere closer to the 15 mark. 20 isn't out of the question some day, but I don't know if he's there as a player just yet. The good thing is that Hutchinson has been playing quite well during training camp and even put up a highlight or two against the Giants in joint practices on Tuesday. We'll soon see if he can produce what this NFC Scout thinks he can.
The other rookie mentioned was safety Kerby Jospeh. An NFC Personnel Director had this to say abotu Joseph's athleticism.
"Kerby is a freak athlete and a playmaker. Not many like him back there in the NFL."
Joseph really showed up in his rookie year. Just ask Aaron Rodgers, he picked him off three times in 2022. So far we've seen Joseph continue to get better and show that he's ready to take on the starting role right away as opposed to waiting. We'll see if he's able to snatch down some more interceptions in 2023 and if that athleticism continues to take him to new heights.
Featured image Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
