The Detroit Lions are one of the teams that are on the up-and-up heading into the 2023 season. Despite not making the 2022 playoffs, the Lions have as much momentum as any team in the NFL.
Detroit won eight out of their last 10 games during the past campaign, only missing the postseason because of a tiebreaker with the Seattle Seahawks. General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have to be ecstatic about the team's direction. This offseason, some major upgrades were made to the roster as well to keep things pushing forward.
Defensively is where the Lions struggled most last season. They hemorrhaged points and yardage at an alarming rate, ranking last in yardage surrendered and 28th in points. Those numbers should improve this season.
The Lions bolstered their secondary by signing cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. One of their first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft was also used on Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.
On top of those additions, the Lions have a burgeoning star on their defensive front in Aidan Hutchinson. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was excellent as a rookie, leading the team with 9.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hits.
Hutchinson finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Sauce Garner of the New York Jets. The sky’s the limit for the Michigan product, who is ready to take that next step in Year 2 after a great offseason.
“I really think just having an offseason to take my time and focus on some of my body deficiencies has helped me a ton. I can’t wait," Hutchinson said, later adding, "Me personally, I feel like I’m just on a completely different level. Instinctually. My explosiveness. Everywhere on the board, I feel like I’ve taken myself to the next level.”
Hutchinson has all of the tools to become a legitimate difference-maker, as he flashed that ability as a rookie. With James Houston book-ending him for an entire season at pass rusher, his numbers could take a jump in 2023.
There is still some work to do for the Lions to become perennial playoff contenders, but they are on the right path. Having players such as Hutchinson as foundational building blocks will only speed that process up.
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