Expectations for the Detroit Lions in 2026 may vary depending on who you ask, but one thing is certain: defensive end Aidan Hutchinson should be destroying offensive tackles again. Hutchinson is coming off a season in which he finished fourth in the NFL in sacks with a career-high of 14.5. He also tied for second in the league with four forced fumbles, behind only Joey Bosa of the Buffalo Bills (5).
Hutchinson has increased his sack totals in each full season during his career, and he tallied 7.5 sacks in just five games in 2024. ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder predicts Hutchinson is headed for his best season yet.
Lions' Aidan Hutchinson predicted to lead the NFL in sacks
Hutchinson was on pace to set the NFL record for sacks in a season in 2023, but it will be a tougher task in 2026. Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan held the record (22.5) since 2001, and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt tied it in 2021. Last season, EDGE Myles Garrett set the new record at 23 with the Cleveland Browns, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason.
With future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald returning to the Rams, he and Garrett should offset each other's sack totals, leading the way for Hutchinson to take the top spot. Current Giants linebacker Brian Burns finished with 16.5 sacks in 2026, and he could be in the mix as well. The only other player with more sacks than Hutchinson last season was Danielle Hunter (15) of the Houston Texans.
Hunter will likely have another successful season, but his teammate Will Anderson Jr. is more likely to be atop the league in sacks in 2026. One could make the argument that Hutchinson and Anderson are the two best young pass rushers in the NFL, and they could go at it for the sack title for years to come.
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The No. 2 player on the list from ESPN is Green Bay Packers EDGE Micah Parsons. Parsons is undoubtedly one of the best pass rushers in the league, but he's going to miss at least the first four games of the season, so it's unrealistic to expect him to lead the NFL in anything other than podcasts.
There is a total of 50 players on the projection list, and Hutchinson is the only Lion. In order to give Hutchinson a chance to wreak havoc, Detroit will have to generate pressure somewhere else. Whether it's Alim McNeill up the middle, or DJ Wonnum or Derrick Moore off the other edge, someone will have to make sure Hutchinson doesn't get double-teamed every play.
The Lions have one of the easiest schedules in the league in 2026, so Hutchinson should have plenty of chances to take down quarterbacks. As long as health cooperates, and the Lions are ahead in enough games, the Michigan native could be on his way to becoming the sack king.
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