The Detroit Lions are looking for a game-changer, and after drafting Aidan Hutchinson No.2 overall, they are hoping for a return on that investment.
Historically speaking, the Detroit Lions having the No.2 overall pick has produced mixed results, more often disappointment than promise.
The first took place in 1947 with the selection of Army RB Glenn Davis. In total, they have held that slot five times.
However, the last two times, 2007 with Calvin Johnson and 2010 with Ndamukong Suh, have been prosperous, the former being a Pro-Football Hall of Famer and the latter being a disruptive force who wound up winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a couple of years ago.
The reality is, Detroit needs a winner, someone who can come on Day One and make a difference. So, thanks to what Jacksonville did with the top overall pick, the Detroit Lions race to the podium and take a hometown hero in Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
The Detroit Lions get fortunate and giddy with the selection of Aidan Hutchinson with the No.2 overall pick
Last season, Hutchinson recorded 14 sacks and led Michigan to a Big Ten title and berth in the College Football Playoff before bowing out to eventual champion Georgia. A breakout season led to Hutchinson finishing second in the Heisman voting to Alabama’s Bryce Young.
Additionally, Hutchinson was the first defensive player ever to be named Most Valuable Player of the Big Ten Championship Game.
That type of pedigree is the talent a team like the Lions needs, given their current state of affairs. Moreover, head coach Dan Campbell gets a player who can come in on Day One and make an immediate impact.
Aidan Hutchinson is a hometown player and an individual the citizens of Michigan can identify with. That type of player can help continue a positive culture in the locker room, and given how life has been in Detroit on the gridiron, any sort of positive change is welcome.
In this case, it’s the hometown kid coming to the rescue, hopefully.