Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions.
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The Detroit Lions are nearing the 2026 NFL draft, and as it approaches, edge Aidan Hutchinson is getting good news.
Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions are knee-deep in the offseason, and the franchise just wrapped up an appearance at the NFL Combine. Of course, the NFL Combine is a place for Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions management to look at upcoming talents and figure out how to draft to Detroit in the 2026 NFL draft.
The NFL Scouting Combine is a “four-day, invitation-only event” that “allows NFL scouts to evaluate that year’s top draft-eligible college players on a variety of medical, mental and physical criteria. Only 300 or so players attend each year,” the official NFL website states.
They add that, “In addition to testing the players, the event tests the members of each NFL team’s personnel department as they make decisions that will shape the future of their franchise.”
So, fresh off the NFL Combine, Campbell and Holmes have gotten the chance to look at a bevy of new players. Now, it’s being projected that they’ll bring some help, finally, to Hutchinson when the 2026 NFL draft rolls around in April.
Detroit Lions Edge Aidan Hutchinson Gets Good News After the NFL Combine
The Detroit Lions have been warned that they need to invest in a solid edge to help Hutchinson. Thankfully, Hutchinson was healthy for the 2025-26 season, but that wasn’t always the case, so not only do they need depth but they can’t rely on just him in that position.
Following the NFL Combine, Christian Booher of SI says that he believes the Lions will draft an edge early in the draft. In a Sunday, March 1 piece for the outlet, he notes, “The Lions’ biggest needs are on the trenches on both sides of the ball, and with both Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport set to be free agent, finding a second option at defensive end is the first priority.”
He sees, according to his research, the Detroit Lions going early and using their No. 17 pick in round one to get edge Cashius Howell from Texas A&M.
“There is a solid crop of options available early in this year’s class, and Howell is a nice fit for the Lions in the first-round,” he states in the feature. “While he received some criticism throughout Combine week for having short arms, he responded with a blazing 4.59 40-yard dash and the fastest pass-rush drill time since Will Anderson in 2023.”
He adds that “even though there are concerns about apparent physical limitations given his arm length, Howell is an explosive athlete who could be a nice compliment on the opposite side of Aidan Hutchinson.”
Another Draft Pick for the Detroit Lions as the 2026 NFL Draft Nears
So, it would be great for the Lions to finally go early in the draft to get an edge. Booher also believes the team will draft an offensive tackle with their next pick, using their round two, No. 50 pick on Max Iheanachor of Arizona State.
“Iheanachor met with the Lions this week, and has some very intriguing traits,” Booher reports. “While he needs some refinement with his technique in the eyes of evaluators, there’s plenty of untapped potential. He has starter upside, and developing under Decker and Penei Sewell would only serve him well in his first season.”
Both players would be solid picks for the Detroit Lions. But, it’s obvious that finally getting a budding edge in Detroit to pair with Hutchinson is an exciting idea.