Scouting report

Aidan Hutchinson, Lions defensive end

Information for this report was obtained from NFL scouts.

Hutchinson, 6-foot-7, 264 pounds, is a rookie drafted No. 2 overall out of Michigan. He leads the Lions with 4½ sacks with three of them coming in a Week 2 loss to the Washington Commanders.

Hutchinson made his first interception last week in a victory over the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. He set a Wolverines record with 14 sacks last season when he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

“Coming out in the draft he wasn’t given enough credit for how fluid and athletic he is, especially his lower body flexibility,” the scout said. “He can bend on the edge. He’s got good short-area closing speed. His hand usage is starting to improve.

“One of the best traits that’s not talked about is his ability to set the edge as a defensive end in the run game. When you’re drafting a guy at No. 2 overall, you’re looking for a two-way player. He’s a big, powerful, base defensive end. He’s got good pursuit speed. He’s an extremely high-effort player. He’ll become more refined as a pass rusher.

“He makes plays late in the down and those are still impactful, like a Trey Hendrickson, who was paid a bunch of money to leave New Orleans and go to Cincinnati. Hutchinson is relentless. He never stops playing, and that is a special trait to have. Not everyone is like that. That’s the truth. Is he high level and off the charts in terms of pass-rush traits? I don’t think so. But he’s going to be a very good football player for a long time.”