By Blessing 
Everyone has their own way of getting hyped for the upcoming NFL season. Some folks dive back into game footage or binge-watch highlight reels from last year. Others, perhaps the wiser ones, completely unplug and treat themselves to a mid-August vacation, far from the chaos of football. Then there are the true diehards—the ones who eagerly grab tickets to training camp just to feel the energy again. To each their own.
But one slightly painful, emotionally-charged way to get yourself ready for football is by diving headfirst into preseason rankings—and taking them personally. Especially if you’re a Lions fan. In just a few weeks, you’ll likely be fuming over daily “Lions Slander” online, so why not get a head start now?
Case in point: ESPN’s latest edge rusher rankings, compiled through input from anonymous coaches, executives, and scouts. It’s a list meant to rank the best pass rushers in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. And where did Aidan Hutchinson land? Seventh.
Apparently, there are six edge rushers better than Hutchinson—according to the NFL
Now, it’s not necessarily a bad ranking, but let’s not pretend it doesn’t sting a bit. Especially when you consider how dominant Hutchinson was last season—despite missing a chunk of it with a broken leg.
“Often, a serious injury can move an elite player out of a top 10. Not the case with Hutchinson, who sustained his momentum despite missing 12 games because of a broken leg,” the article notes.
In just five games, Hutchinson made a statement. He led the league in sacks, pressures, and pass-rush win rate. His 7.5 sacks in the first five games marked the most by a Lions defender to start a season since William Gay in 1982.
“He was on his way to the top three [with Garrett and Watt],” said one NFC executive.
To put it in perspective, Hutchinson’s 35.0% pass rush win rate wasn’t just impressive—it was dominant. The next closest player, Danielle Hunter, was nearly nine percentage points behind. And while Hunter played a full season, Hutchinson was on pace for 48 incompletions created in just five games.
Another AFC executive added, “I thought he would have been a finalist for [Defensive Player of the Year] last season if he hadn’t gotten hurt. Rare motor, exceptional length, great combination of athleticism and power.”
So yeah, seventh may not technically be wrong, but it certainly feels like a snub. Especially for a fanbase that’s spent years watching their stars fly under the radar.
This is exactly the kind of preseason content that stirs the pot just enough to spark passionate debates—without being over the top. And honestly, it aligns perfectly with the underdog mentality the Lions are bound to embrace this season: “Nobody believes in us.”
Nobody believes in Detroit. Nobody believes in Aidan Hutchinson. And maybe—just maybe—that’s exactly how they like it.