Could Aidan Hutchinson break out for the Lions in his second year?

Given their previous performance of finishing 3-13-1 in 2017, this accomplishment is truly extraordinary. Their team performed impressively as the season progressed, and even though they failed to secure one of the 16 playoff spots available, NFL odds show them as being intriguing picks for fans in future years for those that may have confidence in their team now that sports betting is on the rise and enhancing viewing experiences.

Aidan Hutchinson had a positive impact on the Detroit Lions last season

Aidan Hutchinson made an impactful debut season after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He proved invaluable to this squad's success.

The Michigan graduate always came with high expectations and pressure from fans and the media. Still, despite that, he flourished during his debut season and made an immediate impactful statement about himself as a player who belonged to Michigan himself.

Hutchinson made waves as a defensive end, amassing 9.5 sacks while also recording three interceptions during his initial debut season of professional football. Hutchinson showed tremendous development as an early introducer into professional football, leading some within his team to speculate that he will develop and eventually become a Pro Bowl EDGE rusher during subsequent seasons and beyond.

There is no denying that he came with questions when he was drafted. Some had doubts about how far he could go in the game with the skills that he had in his arsenal. However, he appears to have been able to put any doubts to bed and his new coach - John Scott Jr. - believes there is a lot more that can be achieved by the second-year player.

How much better can Hutchinson get?

Scott has already stated that he feels Hutchinson has plenty of untapped potential that is yet to be discovered, and his plans are to try and make it come through in the upcoming season.

He has already revealed that he believes the 22-year-old’s ceiling is as high as you could want it to be, as he praised the youngster’s ability to learn in the classroom and his desire to take onboard knowledge and information in order to improve his game further. 

There has been some change for Hutchinson this offseason during training, but that has only allowed him to try and better himself. Instead of focusing on combined training or trying to adapt to a new environment and learn about the Lions’ culture and his new surroundings, he has been given the opportunity to focus a little more.

This year, he is able to focus on aspects of his individual game, such as positional features and making improvements to areas that may have been identified as weaknesses during his rookie campaign. Of course, this can all help to make him a better player, and one that offenses across the NFL would find an even bigger challenge when they line up against him.

In the age of detailed scouting reports, video analysis from games played throughout the year, and other data being made available at the touch of an individual’s fingertips, even Hutchinson can add more to his game quietly, he can be a huge force.

Will he help the Detroit Lions to improve further?

There is no doubt that the disastrous start to the 2022 NFL season was the reason why the organization had missed out on a potential playoff spot. They hit a purple patch during the final 10 games, with those eight wins giving them their first winning record in five years.

Hutchinson’s apparent high ceiling regarding his talents and desire to learn can help Campbell’s team immensely. Still, they will need to get off to a much faster start if they want to be challenging for a spot in the postseason in the upcoming season.

It will not all be down to the youngster, though. Everyone on the team will need to step up and play their roles perfectly. With several additions made through free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft, the team has started to improve its roster with additional quality.

According to Pro Football Focus, the team’s offensive line ranks inside the top 5 of the league. If they are able to be a top-five team in terms of offense, then there is every chance that they can continue to pick up from where they left off last season and give fans at Ford Field even more to cheer about in 2023.