Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Christian D'Andrea

Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch are channeling their rookie snubs into QB destruction

Aidan Hutchinson slipped to the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Brian Branch garnered only six third-place votes when it came to defensive rookie of the year ballots this winter.

This lack of recognition did nothing to dim their play for an ascendant Detroit Lions team. Slipping in the draft left Hutchinson to remain in his home state as the alpha dog amidst the Lions pass rush. Branch was the jack-of-all-trades head coach Dan Campbell needed in his secondary, bringing value as a wide-ranging safety against the pass and a downhill missile against the run.

In fact, they’re letting this lack of respect fuel them.

“Falling to No. 2 ended up becoming the biggest blessing that’s ever came to me,” Hutchinson said. “I try to look at any adverse moments or any times where you feel like you get the short end of the stick — I try to look for the bigger picture.”

You can catch the entire interview, ranging from the virtues of Detroit-style pizza — a style Branch still hasn’t tried! — to what each learned from national title-winning college coaches to how defenders adjust to pre-snap motion from the line of scrimmage and deep in the secondary alike, below:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.