What's better than one Aidan Hutchinson? Two Aidan Hutchinsons!
Okay, the 2026 NFL Draft may not have had another Aidan Hutchinson on the board at any of the Detroit Lions' spots, but various EDGE defenders had traits that were reminiscent of the Lions' defensive star.
According to Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic, the Lions passed on one such EDGE -- and let the Green Bay Packers draft him
In his article, Baumgardner lists players that were good value selections relative to Dane Brugler's The Beast draft guide. One of the EDGEs listed was Dani Dennis-Sutton, who was selected at #120, with The Beast ranking him as the #60 prospect.
"Dennis-Sutton is still more a collection of tools than a polished product, but those tools are pretty outstanding. The 6-foot-6, 256-pounder (with 33 1/2-inch arms) ran a 4.63 40 and posted a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-11 broad jump. Athletically, he shows some Aidan Hutchinson-like flashes. We’ll see about the rest, though."
Dennis-Sutton was among the numerous EDGEs mocked to the Lions in the second round, before they ultimately took Derrick Moore. Even though the Lions went with Moore, they still had the opportunity to reinforce the pass rush unit with their following pick. The Lions instead picked linebacker Jimmy Rolder at #118, two spots before Dennis-Sutton.
Dennis-Sutton being "more a collection of tools" might be why the Lions and other teams passed on him, letting him fall further than expected. The Lions likely preferred a more finished and polished product like Moore that could be slotted in immediately.
If Dennis-Sutton can put his tools together into a polished product, he may start to show more than Hutchinson-like flashes. He could develop into a Hutchinson-like problem for opposing offenses. With him on the Packers, the Lions will twice be that opposing offense every season.
The Lions still got a steal in the 5th round
Just because the Lions didn't presumably get a good value for a second EDGE, it doesn't mean they were lacking in draft steals. Ranked one spot behind Dennis-Sutton in The Beast was cornerback Keith Abney II, whom the Lions selected at #157.
"In a deep corner class filled with players straight out of central casting, the undersized Abney (5-10, 187) got a bit lost in the shuffle. He wound up being a great value pick by Detroit. A quick and physical defender with confidence in man coverage, Abney could compete for time in the slot immediately."
READ MORE: Lions may have found future starter with 1 of the 'best values' in 2026 NFL Draft
Abney's name has already been frequently brought up as a draft steal, making him one of the most exciting Lions rookies this upcoming season, given the questions surrounding that unit. He's undersized with slot projections, but he did play outside CB throughout his time at Arizona State. With his athleticism and competitive fire, expect to see him making plays sooner rather than later.
We're still months away from the NFL season. It'll be an even longer wait before anyone knows which draft picks were truly a steal and whether the Lions made the right call at EDGE. If Moore and Abney pan out, it would be transformative for the Lions' defense.
That would certainly soften the blow if Dennis-Sutton does become more Hutchinson-like over time.
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