Oct 13, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) rushes the passer with Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) blocking during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) rushes the passer with Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) blocking during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson is entering the 2026 season with a bold prediction hanging over him: a Defensive Player of the Year award could finally be within reach. After returning from a devastating injury and producing at an elite level last season, the defensive end has emerged as one of the league’s most intriguing candidates for the honor.
The prediction is not difficult to understand when looking at what Hutchinson accomplished in 2025. He finished with 14.5 sacks across a full 17-game season, earned second-team All-Pro recognition and finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, putting him firmly among the NFL’s premier pass rushers.
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Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) takes the field during players introduction before the Cleveland Browns game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.
There is also reason to believe the best could still be ahead. Hutchinson now enters the season with a full offseason behind him instead of spending the previous year working his way back from a broken leg, giving him another opportunity to sharpen his technique, improve his conditioning and build on the production that already placed him among the league’s elite defenders.
The supporting cast could make an even bigger difference. Detroit has added more competition and depth along the defensive line, while Alim McNeill is expected to benefit from a full offseason after returning from an ACL injury, potentially creating more favorable matchups for Hutchinson and making it harder for opposing offenses to consistently devote extra blockers to him.
Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson Predicted to Win Defensive Player of the Year in 2026
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Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Hutchinson is projected to get a major award during the 2026 NFL season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Seth Walder for ESPN.
Bold prediction for 2026: Edge Aidan Hutchinson will win Defensive Player of the Year. Hutchinson ranked fourth in pass rush win rate last season, plays a ton of snaps and the Lions face the second-easiest schedule. Put that all together, and the result should be a ton of sacks for Hutch.
The schedule also adds fuel to the prediction. Detroit is expected to face one of the easier schedules in the league, while Hutchinson ranked fourth in pass-rush win rate last season and regularly plays a heavy workload, creating a potentially ideal combination for another jump in sack production.
Nothing is guaranteed, particularly with established stars competing for the same award, but the case is becoming increasingly convincing. If Hutchinson stays healthy and the improved defensive front delivers as expected, 2026 could be the season when his production finally translates into the league’s biggest individual defensive honor.