Aidan Hutchinson opens up on what it means to him to be a Detroit Lion

Michigan-native and former Michigan Wolverines superstar Aidan Hutchinson opened up on what it meant to be drafted No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft. After a few days of letting it sink in, he still feels like it’s all a dream.

“It’s not quite [sunk in yet], we’re still waiting on it. I think it’s gonna be a couple of days,” Hutchinson said. “I was just walking around the building today with my family and like, it’s just weird because growing up, like as a Michigan guy, you know, I’m around Detroit sports so much, and to think that I’m a Lion, it’s just seems like a wild dream to me.”

Hutchinson will luckily be able to stay close to home (approximately 45 minutes away), and will live comfortably doing so. The newest Detroit Lion edge rusher will be able to sign a four-year, $35.7 million contract with his hometown team, including a $23.1 million signing bonus. The contract is fully guaranteed with a fifth-year option available. For a comparison, No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker‘s contract is a four-year, $37.4 million fully guaranteed deal with a $24.6 million signing bonus.

The former Michigan star was the odds on favorite to be drafted first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Hutchinson and the Lions front office will tell you that the situation worked out for every party involved.

The hard-hitting, smash-mouth style of Detroit Lions football is right up the former Michigan star’s wheelhouse. Hutchinson said Detroit’s style is relentless and nasty, and that he sees himself fitting into Dan Campbell’s defensive schemes perfectly.

“He’s just one of those guys that you want to play for and just by the way he composes himself and does his business,” Hutchinson said of his new head coach. “He’s just one of those guys that you want to buy into because you can tell how passionate he is about the game. I didn’t have to meet him. Just seeing him in interviews and seeing how he even interacts with reporters and how he felt about his team. It just felt so genuine. That’s really what I appreciate the most.”

For Campbell, who is taking over a Detroit Lions team that ranked 30th in the NFL in sacks and 31st in third down defense, the rookie is certainly a welcome addition as he looks to rebuild the Lions defense from the ground up with Hutchinson as its cornerstone.