Lions trio headline Pro Football Focus’ midseason All-Rookie Team
While the 32nd-ranked Detroit Lions defense has been the metaphorical punching bag of the NFL this season, the team appears to have found a trio of solid building blocks for the future.
Pro Football Focus recently named its midseason All-Rookie Team with three Lions players — defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, and safety Kerby Joseph — headlining the defensive selections.
“Hutchinson has been the highest-graded rookie starter on the defensive line so far, but that isn’t much to write home about in this class,” PFF said. “He’s leading all rookies in sacks (5) and pressures (24), but his flashes have been few and far between. Through nine weeks, his 66.9 overall grade ranks 53rd among 129 qualifying players at the position."
“Starting as a sixth-rounder from Day 1 was already impressive enough. While Rodriguez has gotten picked on at times and will have to overcome a lot at his size to be a high-end starter, he's still managed 17 stops and a 61.6 overall grade.
“We’re only five games into Joseph’s career, and his playmaking ability is already on full display. He’s allowed only six catches from 13 targets for 67 yards and has recorded two picks and two pass breakups. That’s led to an 89.7 coverage grade and an above-average grade in every game."
Hutchinson leads the Lions with 24 pressures, 15 hurries, five sacks, and four hits. Rodriguez ranks fourth with 34 tackles and he has the fifth-best pass rush win rate (18.5%) on the team.
Joseph leads the Lions with two interceptions, and he ranks second with two pass breakups and sixth with 21 tackles. He also has the lowest completion percentage allowed in coverage (46.2).
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