WATCH: Michigan star DE Aidan Hutchinson delivers eye-popping 40-yard dash at NFL Combine
Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a monster year for the Michigan Wolverines and many of the top NFL draft experts peg the versatile defensive end as the No. 1 overall pick in 2022.
On a day filled with impressive 40-yard dash times from some of the elite defensive prospects, Hutchinson didn’t dissapoint.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein was high on Aidan Hutchinson in his official evaluation ahead of the NFL draft, but still doesn’t see him as a player who is capable of earning All-Pro status.
“Defensive end prospect with a can’t-miss combination of football character, skill and physical traits who is more likely to contend for occasional Pro Bowls than become an All-Pro playmaker”
RELATED: How adversity and one special coach helped elevate Hutchinson’s game
Still, Zierlein highlighted the strengths that have general managers enamored with the Michigan star’s potential at the next level.
“Hutchinson’s strength and flexion allows him to drop a deep anchor and set a very firm edge, and that is unlikely to change as a pro whether he’s used in 4-3 or 3-4 fronts. He can be too mechanical, engaging in cursory contact rather than using his hands to whip the man in front of him quickly. Hutchinson is an instinctive rusher, assailing the pocket with a non-stop barrage of activity. His hands are skilled and efficient to grease the edge while fluid counter steps open inside paths to the pocket. He needs to add a few more items to his rush menu in order to maintain his rush production against NFL tackles. Hutchinson is scheme versatile and should be a very good starter with a very high floor, but his ceiling might not be as elevated as some of the talent he’s been compared to”
While Zierlein has been critical of Hutchinson’s ceiling and his comparison was Kyle Vanden Bosch, other experts have said he mimics former Ohio State and current NFL phenom Joey Bosa, one of the top edge rushers in the league.
At the NFL Combine, Hutchinson was asked about the comparisons between he and Bosa and admitted that he has watched a lot of Bosa’s film.
“Yeah I do think aspects of it are similar,” Hutchinson said of the comparisons to Bosa, via Sports Illustrated’s Fernando Ramirez.. “I’ve watched a lot of film on Joey. He’s a very talented player and he’s a great person to learn from.”
Hutchinson is projected to come off the board early on draft night, potentially No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Most mock drafts have the Jags going with an offensive tackle given their need to protect Trevor Lawrence. A huge weekend at the combine could make Hutchinson too good to pass up.
That would be an honor he embraces wholeheartedly.
“It would mean a lot (to go No. 1),” Hutchinson said. “A lot of hard work has gone into this. It’s been a very long journey, but I’m ready to start a new chapter.”