Detroit Lions 2025 Season First Quarter Awards

Comeback Player of the Year: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Throughout the offseason, there were questions surrounding Hutchinson. Would he be the same player? How much rust would he have? Would Hutchinson have the same burst?

After week one, those questions intensified. Now, the only questions around Hutchinson are when will he get a contract extension, and how does the other team plan to stop him. Every week, Hutchinson improves, and when Cleveland had both starting tackles out against the Lions, the Michigan product had a feast. Two sacks with a forced fumble later, and Joe Flacco might still be hearing footsteps.

Best Offensive Player: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

After reading the team MVP, was there really any doubt? St. Brown is having a career year, through four games. Personally, he has recorded his first three-touchdown game, alongside his first 100-yard first half.

As far as historically, he has the second-most touchdowns through four games in Lions history, only trailing the great Calvin Johnson’s eight in 2011. Additionally, he, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery have set the all-time mark for most games with all three recording a touchdown.

Best Defensive Player: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Unsurprisingly, the comeback winner is also the team’s defensive MVP. While not on the historic pace of Amon-Ra St. Brown, the defensive end is in the top-ten in sacks for the league. Additionally, if not for a penalty, he would have been best in the league after four weeks.

Hutchinson’s tape gets better every week, and the emergence of Muhammad will free up more opportunities once the latter is back to full health. That could be as soon as this weekend, so watch out for the Lions’ pass rush against Cincinnati.

Top Rookie: OG Tate Ratledge

Ratledge has faced the task of filling in on a Detroit offensive line that lost two Pro Bowlers to retirement and free agency, and has performed admirably. After a week one that was sluggish, the Georgia product has adjusted to the NFL extremely well. He currently has a 68.4 run block grade on PFF.

In his most recent outing, the guard went pound-for-pound with fellow 2025 draftee Mason Graham, a top-five selection. Better yet, the Lions’ guard came out on top. With the Lions offense putting up 34.3 points per game, the starting guard is doing his part.

Honorable mention to DT Tyleik Williams here, too. This was not an easy decision to award Ratledge over Williams. However, the Lions’ offensive output gave Ratledge the edge here.

Best New Coach: OC John Morton

One of the top discussions this offseason was replacing the play calling genius of Ben Johnson. Early returns for Morton suggest that he was the right man for the job, and has filled that hole perfectly.

Morton has helped activate the Goff-St. Brown connection to a new level, given David Montgomery a new career high in rushing yards in a game, and finds ways to get Jahmyr Gibbs involved.

When the offense remains the top scoring offense in the league after a coaching change, it is hard to argue for anyone else to receive the award. Morton also has not abandoned the unique playcalls, with the Montgomery-to-Goff-to-St. Brown double pass against the Ravens proving “Johnnie Mo” has tricks up his sleeve.

Kacy Rodgers was considered for this award as well, with his defensive line making a major impact during each of the last three games. Once again, the 34.3 PPG output is a number that will steal the spotlight.