The list of rookies to sign their first NFL contracts continues to grow, and now includes the draft’s second overall pick. The Lions have signed Aidan Hutchinson to his rookie deal, as confirmed by his agent, Mike McCartney. 
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport details (on Twitter) that the contract has a fully-guaranteed value of just over $35.7MM across four (or, with a team option, five, years), and includes a signing bonus of nearly $23.2MM. Hutchinson becomes the second top-five pick to ink his inaugural deal, joining Ahmad Gardner of the Jets.
The Michigan native followed in his father’s footsteps playing for the Wolverines in college. His career started to take off during his sophomore season, as he totalled 69 tackles, including 11 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. That led to heightened expectations for the following campaign, but it was cut short by a fractured leg.
While Hutchinson was again the subject of optimism for an overall strong Michigan defense going into this past season, he wasn’t in the conversation to be in consideration for the top pick. That changed week by week, as he authored one of the most productive campaigns in school history, setting a program record with 14 sacks, adding 16.5 tackles for loss and a pair of forced fumbles. That made him a finalist for the Heisman trophy, as well as a candidate for Jacksonville with the No. 1 pick.
Ultimately, the Jaguars made Travon Walker the top selection, leaving the dream scenario in play for Detroit. The Lions didn’t hesitate to pick Hutchinson, making him an immediate anchor of the team’s defense. He – alongside third-rounder Josh Paschal – will look to boost the Lions’ pass rush and continue the overall progress made at the end of the 2021 campaign.
Not long before the Hutchinson signing was announced, the Lions inked their final 2022 draftee. Seventh-rounder Chase Lucas agreed to terms on his rookie deal, per Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo (Twitter link).
I really hope Hutch works out for the Lions, but if him being manhandled by UGA’s LT Jamaree Salyer, a late round NFL Draft pick that projects as the Guard, is any kind of insight into his NFL prospects it really doesn’t look too good.
Maybe there was just alot of pressure on him, and he had a bad game, or maybe Todd Monken and Matt Luke just had the perfect game plan against him, idk. Still though, for him to come up completely empty, and for him to get manhandled by Salyer it definitely left a sour taste in my mouth…
He’s a solid young man, and I definitely wish him the best, but that performance in the CFB Playoffs wasn’t nearly what I’d expect from a top tier sack artist. I don’t recall the Bosa brothers or Chase Young, ever disappearing like that…T.Walker, J.Davis, Q.Walker, C.Tindall, and even the passed up on N.Dean all had their shining moments during their playoff run as well…Hutch and Ojabo were complete ghosts…/:
Everyone has off games and Salyer mostly fell for injury concerns. I’d be shocked if Hutchinson isn’t at least good.
I was under the impression Salyer fell due to a lack of arm length, and being a tweener prospect…Not long enough to be a tackle, but also didn’t have the requisite bend and strength to stay at Guard…
For me, Salyer should have been at least a 3rd Rounder. All he did was stop everyone they out in front of him each and every game for two straight years…
It just gives me some pause about Aidan, and admittingly alot of it is because I haven’t watched alot of his previous game film. Although, then I see him matched up against a mid round IOL prospect playing LT, and he got taken out of the game…
Then again, the samething went for Ojabo and RT Warren McClendon. Given, McClendon should at least stay at RT at the NFL level, but he likely won’t be but a midround pick as well next year…Big Mac caused Ojabo to turn ghost in that game, and at the time, analysts and “gurus” were predicting Ojabo to be a top 10 pick…
Idk, maybe I’m judging them unfairly like alot of people judged Justin Fields off his one bad ggame.But, you hear whispers that the two have mainly just feasted off of inferior competition, and then when they face solid OL on a big stage, they choke…Idk, I just find it difficult to think very highly of them as TOP NFL talents…
Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly rooting for them both, especially with what happened to Ojabo, so hopefully it was just a bad game and a great gameplan by UGA..
Georgia’s entire offensive gameplan was based around stopping Hutch from getting involved. It was all quick passes, runs away from him, and double teams. His performance in that game doesn’t concern me in the least.
Time to get to work!!!
The time is now to turn the tables on the NFL. And shock the f@#$’n world.If the Bengals can almost pull it off we can too. I got faith in Holmes & Co. They are putting this thing we got here together quietly.Our time is coming.The Football Gods say so.It has already begun @ that very moment we drafted AH.Its destined.We all want our beloved Lions to succeed with Hutch leading the charge.But it’s going to take a team effort. I think Hutch leadership from day one should provide the spark come Any Given Sunday.The stage has been set…lights, camera… get @fter the quarterback. Let’s give’em hell.A few bump in the roads sure we gonna take that.This is why I bleed DetroitLion football for the last 33 yrs & counting.Once that is established others will follow suit.
Football Gods huh?…lol.
If your a Lions fan my friend be optimistic.If not I can understand why u wouldn’t want to be.Does anyone know the history or where they originated from.Most diehard fans dont.They just root for the team but dont know spit about them.The Lions didn’t originate from Detroit.U say where, a little city called Portsmouth in Ohio in the 20’s.Known as the Portsmouth Spartans.Way before my time and yours.Then they moved to Detroit in 34′.But I prolly didn’t expect for anyone to know that.Miami Dolphins were the Miami Seahawks…Cleveland was named @fter Moses Cleveland the city was named @fter…The Vikings were the Minnesota Mariners…Chicago Bears were named the Decatur Staleys…Pittsburgh Steelers-Steegles of WW1 then the Pittsburgh Pirates of 34 yes the baseball team then the Steelers…Dallas Cowboys’ the Dallas Steers…and so on. I’m a Dodgers fan since I was 12…they were the Brooklyn Atlantics of the 1800’s then the Robin’s the Trolleys and so forth.But but all of this is irrelevant. Lol.
Detroit Lions were the Portsmouth Spartans 1930-1933.
Miami Seahawks played 1 AAFC season in 1946, well before the AFL came into existence therefore no real connection to the Dolphins. The AAFC played their last season in 1949. In 1950 the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49’ers joined the NFL. There were however a couple of familiar named AAFC teams that would see names in the NFL, but not the same team such as the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Colts.
There was an NFL team called the Minneapolis Marines that played from 1921-1930, becoming the Red Jackets in 1929. They however did not evolve into the Vikings.
The Bears were the Decatur Staleys in 1920 and then the Chicago Staleys in 1921, but have been the Bears since 1922.
The Philadelphia/Pittsburgh Steagles played in 1943. The Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers combined in 1944. From 1933-1939 the Steelers were the Pittsburgh Pirates, they have been the Steelers since 1940 with the exception of the two War Years above.
Cool history though.
Glad we know about our history on the Lions and other teams as well.Some others don’t …ur a class act Rich.Good info…thumbs up!!!
Did u know also no one knew the singer Marvin Gaye was actually suppose to try out for the Lions during the LemBarney era.Good thing he chose singing instead.The guy has classic hits for days.