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It’s no secret that Detroit Lions fans are passionate — and when it comes to the team’s pass rush, they’ve made their voices heard. This week, GM Brad Holmes addressed the elephant in the room: why the Lions haven’t found another edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.
Turns out, the answer is more complex than fans might think.
The Hutchinson Effect
When the Lions selected Aidan Hutchinson second overall in 2022, they struck gold. Hutch has since developed into one of the NFL’s premier young pass rushers, anchoring Detroit’s defense and racking up double-digit sacks. But as Holmes pointed out during a recent interview on 97.1 The Ticket, Hutchinson’s greatness has come with an unexpected twist.
“I have always felt like the fan base is almost mad,” Holmes said. “Like, they’re mad because we have Aidan Hutchinson. Because, now, he’s so good, well why don’t you have two of them.”
In other words: having a star only makes fans want more stars. And while that hunger for dominance is understandable, Holmes says it’s not that simple.
Finding Another Hutch? Easier Said Than Done
Edge rushers like Hutchinson don’t grow on trees. Holmes was candid about how rare it is to land someone of that caliber — especially without overreaching.
“They’re hard to find, they’re hard to get, they’re hard to acquire,” Holmes emphasized. And he’s not wrong. While the Lions added Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of the 2025 Draft, he’s considered a developmental project, not a plug-and-play savior.
Fans hoping for a splashy edge addition might be disappointed, but Holmes made it clear that every move is deliberate.
“Are You Trying to Build a Football Team?”
Holmes also pushed back against the idea that the Lions should chase edge talent just to check a box.
“Are you trying to build a football team? Or are you trying to just pair ends?” he asked, pointing to the importance of constructing a balanced roster, not just stacking one position.
That holistic approach is what helped Detroit go 15–2 last season. It’s not just about one flashy player or one position group — it’s about putting the right pieces together across the board.
The Bigger Picture
While Lions fans may still be dreaming of a Hutchinson clone, Holmes’ message is clear: patience and smart team-building come first.
And who knows? If young talents like Tyleik Williams step up and rotational guys overperform, the pass rush could be better than fans expect — even if there’s still only one Aidan Hutchinson.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to argue with results. Brad Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt.