On “The Rich Eisen Show” Friday, Lions general manager Brad Holmes dove into his past to offer a comp for Aidan Hutchinson.
Aidan Hutchinson was so clearly the Detroit Lions guy with the second overall pick in the draft that they drew ire from the league for turning the card in so quickly. Not that head coach Dan Campbell cared.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes was on “The Rich Eisen Show” Friday. He offered a comparison for Hutchinson, from his scouting past with the Rams.
Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft.
Here’s what Holmes said, via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News:
The first time I saw Aidan, really, was back in 2020, when I was still with the Rams,” Holmes said. “He was kind of playing a different position. He was kind of playing more of an interior role. … When I first saw him, he reminded me of Chris Long a little bit.”
Aidan Hutchinson-Chris Long comp seems to fit
Holmes spent 18 years with the Rams before landing his first general manager job in Detroit last year. He was a low-level scout back in 2008, and he explained how the Rams had to try to project Long, who was used a lot in an interior role at Virginia, to defensive end at the next level–much like his first time seeing Hutchinson at Michigan in 2020.
Of course Hutchinson moved out to the edge last season for the Wolverines, and all he did was set the school single-season record with 14 sacks. Via Rogers, Holmes told Eisen about that fresh evaluation.
He just shows a whole new toolbox that I was like, ‘Wow,’” Holmes said about the evolving evaluation of Hutchinson. “There was an uptick in excitement and life for him.”
Over 11 NFL seasons with the Rams, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, Long had 70 sacks (top-100 on the all-time list) and 15 forced fumbles along with two Super Bowl rings. Based on skill set and character, he fits as a comp for Hutchinson and it just happens the Lions’ general manager carries some deeper knowledge to inform his noting of it.
Comps for Hutchinson have included Maxx Crosby, Joey Bosa and Jared Allen. Chris Long is a worthy addition to the list.