2022 NFL Draft – Hutchinson Favored to Be Taken First

At the onset of the week, Aidan Hutchinson emerged as the favorite to be taken first in the 2022 NFL Draft.  We will learn the actual answer with the

2022 NFL Draft odds on Thursday night with first-round coverage on three networks.  Although Hutchinson opened as the favorite, it is not a lock.  Trades and favors between teams are common at the NFL Draft.  So surprise.  Last year the draft was dominated by an attractive list of quarterbacks.  This year’s draft will appeal more to hardcore football fans and gamblers.  

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Can Lions Keep Hutchinson Home? 

Last season Michigan EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson made a name for himself.  Michigan had a transformative season with the sportsbook odds that ended with the Big Ten Championship.  Equally important was a dominant win for the Maize and Blue over Ohio State.

Specifically, Hutchinson exploded into national prominence for betting on NFL Draft ratings in the Ohio State win.  In 2021 Hutchinson won the Ted Hendricks, Lombardi, Lott IMPACT, and Chicago Tribune Silver Football Awards.  Additionally, he was named the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the year and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year.  Hutchinson was the Most Valuable Player of the Big Ten Championship Game and a Unanimous All-American.

Following three relatively quiet seasons, Hutchinson exploded to the top of the

2022 NFL Draft betting odds.  He totaled 55 tackles, 154 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and two forced fumbles.  With the scoring explosion of NFL offenses, a dominant EDGE rusher is desirable for all teams.  Especially an hour to the East of the Michigan campus.

The sad sack Detroit Lions are the NFL’s laughingstock.  The Lions are perennial Super Bowl betting longshots.  In fact, Detroit has never made the Super Bowl.  And the ability to bring in Hutchinson would be a hit with the hometown fans.  Detroit finished 3-13-1 and had the NFL’s 29^th ranked overall defense.  Also, the Lions ranked 31^st for points allowed.  But Detroit is drafting behind the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Jacksonville is believed to be interested in defensive lineman Travon Walker.  Naturally, there is speculation that an agreement will be reached between the Jags and Lions for Detroit to get Hutchinson.

Travon Walker Could Go First to Jacksonville

First on the board to pick in the 2022 NFL Draft are the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Jacksonville’s experiment with head coach Urban Meyer was an NFL gambling debacle.  Meyer did not even finish the season before being fired with cause.  In like manner to the Lions, Jacksonville finished 20^th in the NFL for total defense and 28^th for points allowed.  Jacksonville produced the fewest takeaways in the league in 2021.  This leads to speculation about Travon Walker from the national champion Georgia Bulldogs.

Walker declared for the 2022 NFL Draft as a junior after the Bulldogs won the natty.  Although he is not as decorated as Hutchinson, many NFL Draftniks think Walker has greater potential.

Ikem Ekwonu Emerges as the Ultimate Wild Card

North Carolina State Wolfpack tackle Ikem Ekwonu is rated the most dominant run blocker in college football.  Last year he amassed an astounding 18 big-time blocks.  That was seven more than the next best total.  Thus, it was no surprise that Ekwonu was a Unanimous All-American in 2021 and First-Team All-ACC.  It is unlikely that Ekwonu will be the first player taken.  But it is not impossible.  In turn, his best chance to go first would be based on trades of multiple teams that would change the draft order.