Lions rookie Aidan Hutchinson started out the year a bit slow as he was getting adjusted to the speed of the NFL. Because of that, players like Sauce Gardner and Tariq Woolen were able to make early pushes for the defensive rookie of the year award. Today we are going to be debating if Aidan Hutchinson’s late-season push has been good enough to consider him for this award.
Aidan Hutchinson Compared To Other Rookies Weeks 1-9
As stated earlier, Aidan Hutchinson wasn’t near the player in the earlier weeks than he has been recent. Hutchinson had a strong week two putting up three sacks against the Washington Commanders but other than that there wasn’t a lot of counting stats-wise for Hutchinson. Since Week 1 Sauce Gardner and Tariq Woolen have been making big impacts on their respective teams. Sauce Gardner was and has been the definition of lockdown through this period and was rarely thrown at even when guardian some of the league’s best receivers. Where Tariq Woolen wasn’t as lockdown but had a lot of interceptions and was lighting up the stat sheets.
Even Though Hutchinson didn’t stand out immediately he showed many flashes throughout these weeks and there was something that skewed his play. Since he’s been in the league, Hutchinson has been one of the most double-teamed players in the entire league and as hard as it is for any player to overcome that, as a rookie it is extremely difficult. Week nine is when Hutchinson really started to take off in his play, where he established himself as a good run defender and showed his incredible play recognition after intercepting a tackle screenplay on the goalline. So while Gardner and Woolen were better than him in these weeks, the next half of the season really made it a race.
Aidan Hutchinson Compared To Other Rookies Weeks 10-17
This is the point in the season where Aidan Hutchinson started showing people why he was picked second overall and that he has finally adjusted to the speed of the NFL. Since this point, he has been the second highest graded edge defender in the entire league according to PFF, with his teammate James Houston not too far behind him. Even with this spark in play though, you can’t immediately overlook Sauce Gardner or Tariq Woolen as they have had a good second half to the season as well. Tariq Woolen’s play has dropped off a little from how it was in the first half of the season but he has still played exceptionally well.
Hutchinson has continued to be double-teamed at an extreme rate but is getting passed them extremely well, to the point where he is getting a ton of pressure and hurries every game. Hutchinson has also been a huge part of the Lions’ run defense improving when he lines up on the inside. He also has the most interceptions from a rookie defensive lineman in NFL history along with two fumble recoveries. Even with all this though, Sauce Gardner has continued his incredible play by allowing almost no catches throughout the whole season and being talked about as one of the top corners in all of football.
Has Aidan Hutchinson Put Together A Good Case For DROY?
With all that said, Hutchinson has without a doubt been a top-three rookie defender with not only his ability to pass rush and run-stopping ability but also his play recognition. His hustle and high motor have put the Lions in so many great situations and have helped the Lions’ defense improve drastically So while he has put together a great case, it will be hard for him to beat out Sauce Gardner since he’s been dominant since Week 1.
