Michigan Football: Aidan Hutchinson goes No. 2 to the Detroit Lions

Michigan football’s Aidan Hutchinson went to the perfect place with the Detriot Lions with the No. 2 overall pick.

What a time to be alive! Out of all the tremendous players that have walked through Schembechler Hall in the past decade to go on and have NFL careers, I did not expect Aidan Hutchinson to get drafted top-2 overall.

The Lions are instantly getting a player who fits the culture that they want to build, which is filled with positivity, hard work, effort, and a blue-collar mentality, as instilled in the entire roster by the Lions head coach, Dan Campbell. I’ve already written about what an NFL team is getting in Aidan Hutchinson.

The position of the pick is so significant because it is the first Michigan football player to be selected in the top-2 overall since offensive lineman Jake Long in 2008. The fact that this high pick is another player from in the trenches is cool as well.

Jim Harbaugh got Andrew Luck selected #1 overall in 2011, and now he got Aidan selected #2 overall in 2022. He can tout that to future recruits. Jim Harbaugh especially loves this pick (as do I personally) because Aidan stays close to home, as Jim was hoping that Aidan would stay in-state, and he got his wish.

This draft pick also continues Michigan football’s streak of 84 straight years with a pick in the NFL Draft. It’s crazy to think that Michigan has the longest streak in college football (tied with USC).

One thing is for sure: Jim Harbaugh and his assistants can really recruit and/or develop defensive linemen, as guys like Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley, Rashan Gary, Bryan Mone, Chase Winovich, Aidan Hutchinson have all come through the program, and got better under Harbaugh before leaving for the NFL.

Aidan came to Michigan to beat Ohio State and win a Big Ten title, he saw Michigan get dominated by the Buckeyes for his first three years in Ann Arbor, but in his senior year, he conquered them for Michigan’s first win in the series since 2011 (see what I did there?).

His legacy will forever be remembered  as the guy who promised to get Michigan football right, and then delivered on those promises. He is the best edge player in Michigan football history, there’s no debate.

I and all of the GBM Wolverine writers wish him all the best in his NFL career. I know he will be very successful at the NFL level because he has the willpower, the attitude and the passion for the game that a lot of others don’t.

Can’t wait to see all of his highlights in the NFL. What a Wolverine legend. Go Blue!