The Detroit Lions are getting ready to kick off their 2025 season, and as part of the excitement of a new year, fans are dreaming of what their favorite players will soon do on the field.
With many stars, the Lions figure to have a fantastic season both offensively and defensively on tap that could lead to more winning. But what will happen specifically for one of their star players? That's a question ESPN attempted to answer ahead of the season.
Analyst Seth Walder revealed one bold prediction for the year, and believes that Aidan Hutchinson will put up some metrics that would place him amongst the best defensive linemen to play the game recently. The prediction? Something which would make Hutchinson
"Aidan Hutchinson will record at least 100 pass rush wins, something that has happened only twice since the metric was created in 2017 (Micah Parsons in 2023 and Aaron Donald in 2018). I'm getting sucked into a small sample size and ignoring that he's coming off a season-ending broken leg, but Hutchinson's 35% pass rush win rate in the five games he played last season put him on pace for the second-highest PRWR in the metric's history (he also had 7.5 sacks). I think he could be excellent again in 2025."
Ironically, Micah Parsons posted a similar stat two years ago. If Hutchinson is able to generate the same pressure number on his own, it might only prove why the Lions didn't feel compelled to deal for Parsons when he was available. With Hutchinson, they might have one of the league's best pass rushers already on the roster.
Brad Holmes has maintained Lions already have an elite pass rusher
For many, watching Parsons get shipped to a division rival wasn't a settling thought. Plenty of people understand the Lions need depth help to rush the passer, and the idea has persisted that Detroit should go big at the position to help Hutchinson.
Listening to Holmes speak, however, it's clear that there is belief in Hutchinson as a game-changing talent up front. It may have even lessened the need to sign Za'Darius Smith before the season. Holmes didn't commit at the time to pursuing Smith or another top pass rusher even with a few empty roster spots.
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"You guys know me. Anything's a possibility at any point. I don't know what's going to happen, but that one open roster spot, it's not for a specific player. It's for the player that makes the most sense for us, whoever that player may be. We went into last year I think with 52. Just gives you some flexibility, but it's not just about that player. It gives us some good flexibility. We cut it down to 50 this year. I thought it was awesome. I loved it. I don't think it'll be the last time that you'll see that."
The Lions didn't rush to fill those open roster spots with veteran pass rushers, instead choosing to take a swing at an intriguing young lineman Tyler Lacy and pass rusher Tyrus Wheat. Both of those players will provide some depth on special teams and on defense rather than be a solution on their own.
If the Lions get an elite season out of Hutchinson as Walder predicts, fans aren't likely to spend much time worrying about Holmes not making a dramatic move in the offseason. Only time will tell if this was a good bet.