Hutchinson was having a monster 2024 season before suffering a brutal leg injury that cut his campaign short. He opened the year as the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September and dropped four sacks in a single Week 2 game against the Buccaneers. That pace had him in early conversations for Defensive Player of the Year before fate stepped in.
Still, when it came time for NFC North writers to vote on the best pass-rusher in the division, there was no hesitation. Hutchinson landed at the top, with unanimous first-place votes ahead of Jonathan Greenard (Vikings) and Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings).
> “While we’ll never know if Hutchinson would’ve broken the sack record, it’s clear he’s one of the best in the league,” wrote John Maakaron of All Lions.
Hutchinson has become the heart of the Lions defense, combining rare speed and power off the edge. With his rehab reportedly going well, Detroit is banking on him to return to form and keep terrorizing quarterbacks in 2025.
The only question? Whether the Lions can find someone consistent to rush opposite him. Because with Hutchinson leading the way, the defense already has its cornerstone in place.
Hutchinson Earns Unanimous First-Team Honors Despite Injury-Shortened Season
