Measurables
UNIVERSITY- Michigan AGE- 21 CLASS- SR
HEIGHT- 6’6” WEIGHT- 265 ARM LENGTH-
40 Time- 3 CONE- VERTICAL- BROAD JUMP- BENCH PRESS-
Overview
Aidan Hutchinson is son of former Michigan star Chris Hutchinson. He played his high school ball for Divine Child High School(prep) in Michigan where he played DE, TE, OL and was also the team’s long snapper. He also played lacrosse as a junior and earned all state honors. He was deemed the top recruit in Michigan when he came out by many. As a freshman in 2018 Hutchinson played in all 13 games, finishing with 15 tackles, 1 TFL. In 2019 he started all 13 games, recording 68 tackles, 10 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 6 PBUs, 2 FF. Going into 2020 Hutchinson was voted a team captain by his teammate but only played in 3 games before falling to injury. Voted a team captain again as a senior, Hutchinson started in all 14 games for the Wolverines great season that ended in a loss in the semifinals of the CF playoffs. He finished the season with 62 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 14 sacks(single season school record), 3 PBUs, 2 FF and 1 FR. The list of awards he won for this incredible season are lengthy… Consensus All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, Rotary Lombardi Award, Ted Hendricks award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Woodson-Nagurski award (Big Ten player of the year), and the Smith-Brown award(Big Ten DLinemen of the year). Aidan also earned academic honors throughout his collegiate career.
Strengths
When you think of a 4-3 DE body, Aidan Hutchinson’s size and length is what pops up in most people’s minds. Aidan doesn’t possess great length, but he uses his leverage and hands extremely well . Hutchinson isn’t an explosive athlete off the ball but he can get downhill in a hurry with long strides. He uses his downhill momentum to generate a lot of speed to power. For his size he shows great upper body flexibility and lower body agility. He is able to get up-field then quickly counter inside and squeeze in between traffic for pressure or a sack. Aidan also uses this agility very well in the run game as he’s very good in the open space, especially squeezing down on plays flowing away from his side. Aidan’s best trait is his violent hands and assortment of pass rush moves. There were games and periods of games where Aidan simply couldn’t be blocked. He can win with a quick swipe to get around the outside hip and he can drop his pad-level and win with a straight bullrush. Even when Aidan isn’t able to capture the edge he often collapses the pocket to make the QB uncomfortable. Aidan shows a great understanding of what the offense wants to do, you will see him often calling out adjustments pre-snap to the rest of the defense. He also will be quick to recognize a screen play, where he will drop in coverage to blow it up. Hutchinson showed the ability to rush from a 3-point or 2-point stance but he projects as a 4-3 DE in the NFL as a 3 down player. Aidan plays with a relentless motor and extreme high energy that flows throughout the team.
Weaknesses/Room for Improvement
Aidan lacks elite explosion off the line and won’t win with pure speed in the NFL. Earlier in the season, he wasn’t as consistent getting off blocks as a rusher so it makes you wonder if the end of the season was just a flash of greatness. As a run defender Aidan needs to work on disengaging from blockers quicker. He doesn’t get driven back in the run game but you will have better success running at him than away from him. Aidan lacks great ankle flexibility, which doesn’t allow for him to turn the corner effectively in his speed rush sets. This forces him to win primarily from going through offensive linemen. He can play a little high at times and needs to work on his leverage. For a edge rusher who is being talked about in the top 5, he wasn’t schemed for in really any game aside from the Georgia game in the playoffs. He didn’t draw very many chips or double teams and was left 1-on-1 often in the pass game. For a player left 1-on-1 so often you would expect a little more dominance from a top 5 pick. He didn’t fight through double teams particularly well when he was doubled. I’ll say when RBs tried to help pick him up he did an amazing job of avoiding them or going through them though. If he is the same player he was during the last month of the season then he will be really productive as a 3 down DE.
Scheme Fit
4-3 DE
Round Grade
Early First Round