How other Michigan-to-Detroit Lions NFL draftees have fared since 1969

The Detroit Lions selected Michigan EDGE defender Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the 12th Wolverine since 1969 to be drafted by the hometown team. The Lions have selected 33 Michigan alums in franchise history with the bulk of them coming between 1937 and 1962.

The NFL was a much smaller league back then and the talent pool was more regional so that makes sense. The Michigan-to-Detroit pipeline has gotten fewer and further between over the last few decades, but Hutchinson’s selection is one they hope breaks the mold.

Hutchinson, who played in 43 career games at Michigan, was a Consensus All-American in 2021 and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. Hutchinson, a two-time captain, is the program record-holder for sacks in a single season, notching 14 for the Wolverines in 2021. His play earned him runner-up honors in the Heisman Trophy race.

Hutchinson was the first Michigan player selected by the Lions since both guard Graham Glasgow and quarterback Jake Rudock were selected in 2016. Before then, the last Wolverine to come off the board to Detroit was offensive tackle Jeff Backus in 2001. Hutchinson is the first defensive player from Ann Arbor selected by Detroit since Garland Rivers in 1987.

Hutchinson is the third first-round pick from Michigan in Lions history. The other two were fullback Bob Westfall (1942) and Backus. Wide receiver Terry Barr (third-round pick, 1957) is the only former Wolverine to make a Pro Bowl as a Lion. He was also on the last team to win a championship with the team as part of the 1957 roster.

To keep things somewhat modern, we went back and looked back at the Wolverines-to-Lions pipeline since the Bo Schembechler era at Michigan. Here is a look at the 12 prospects that Hutchinson is in company with.

2016: Graham Glasgow, IOL, Round 3, No. 95 overall and Jake Rudock, QB, Round 6, No. 191 overall

Graham Glasgow played for four seasons in Detroit, making 58 starts in 62 games played at both center and guard. He took over as a starter halfway through his rookie season and never looked back. The Lions let him walk in free agency in 2020, where he eventually signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Denver Broncos. Glasgow has had some health issues but has started 20 games over the past two years.

Rudock played in three games during the 2017 season, completing 3-of-5 passes for 24 yards and an interception. He spent much of his Lions career on the practice squad. He spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins practice squad before retiring in 2021 and entering medical school at Michigan.

2001: Jeff Backus, OT, Round 1, No. 17 overall

The Lions selected an ironman when they grabbed the Midland, Michigan native. Jeff Backus started all 191 games he played during his NFL career in Detroit. Backus had a streak of 186 consecutive games played snapped on Nov. 22, 2012. He never made a Pro Bowl with the Lions but was a valuable part of the line all 12 seasons.

1987: Garland Rivers, DB, Round 4, No. 92 overall

Detroit selected Garland Rivers, a Consensus All-American in 1986, in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL Draft, but he never played in a game with them. He was with the Chicago Bears during the 1987 campaign, but that would be the end of his NFL career. Rivers also spent time with the Albany Firebirds and Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.

1983: Rich Strenger, OT, Round 2, No. 40 overall

An All-Big Ten selection in 1982, Rich Strenger played in 49 games with 30 starts in his Lions career at right tackle. He battled a plethora of injuries during his career, which eventually caught up with him. Strenger tried out for the Buffalo Bills in 1988 and 1989, but was let go both times.

1981: Andy Cannavino, LB, Round 10, No. 264 overall

Andy Cannavino was a First-team All-Big Ten selection in 1980 and parlayed that into a draft selection with the Lions. However, he was released in the preseason. He resurfaced in 1982 with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was released before the season began. Cannavino won a USFL championship as a member of the Michigan Panthers in 1983. He was traded to the Chicago Blitz in 1984 and his career came to a close after that.

1978: Dwight Hicks, DB, Round 6, No. 150 overall

The Lions selected the talented Michigan defensive back, but he never played for them. He started his football career with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 1978. Hicks then spent the next seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he won a pair of Super Bowls, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro pick in 1981. His career came to an end after one season with the Indianapolis Colts in 1986.

1975: Dennis Franklin, WR, Round 6, No. 144 overall and Steve Strinko, LB, Round 9, No. 219 overall

Dennis Franklin was converted from quarterback to wide receiver upon his selection by the Lions. He had a short NFL career that saw him play in nine games with six catches over two seasons.

Steve Strinko slid in the draft, much to the dismay of his former head coach Bo Schembechler. A knee surgery before signing with Detroit kept him out of the 1975 season. He tried to come back in 1976, but could not keep fluid off his knee and it was determined it was too damaged to return. Strinko never played a game in the NFL.

1971: Pete Newell, DT, Round 5, No. 125 overall

The Lions never found ar ole for Newell and he was let go before his rookie season got going. The BC Lions of the CFL took a shot on him and he played in one game on Sept. 24, 1971. That was the end of his football career.

1969: George Hoey, DB, Round 14, No. 346 overall

A former football and track star at Michigan, Hoey never suited up for the silver and blue. He did play five years in the NFL, splitting time between the St. Louis Cardinals, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos and New York Jets from 1971-75. He had 524 kickoff return yards in his career with one touchdown.