Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson declares for 2022 NFL Draft

Jim Harbaugh was finally able to break through with the Michigan Wolverines this season, defeating Ohio State and making the College Football Playoff. Having defensive end Aidan Hutchinson being a leader was a huge reason why — terrifying offenses all season.

On Wednesday, Hutchinson announced the 2021 season was his last in Ann Arbor and declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. Along with it, he penned a letter to everyone involved with the Michigan program and said he would remember the Ohio State game forever.

“I spent years visualizing the actual moment that unfolded in my final season at Michigan,” Hutchinson said. “November 27, 2021, was 10 years in the making and could not have been a more unforgettable night with my brothers. They proved with me time and time again this season that nothing is impossible and 2% is still 2%. I will relive all of those glorious moments for the rest of my life and forever be grateful to my team for joining me in giving everything we had.”

Hutchinson got to represent Michigan during the Heisman Trophy ceremony after the season. While he came up just short, finishing second behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, he was one of the few defensive players to ever end up in New York City.

In Todd McShay’s latest NFL Draft rankings, he declared Hutchinson as his No. 1 overall player. He was rated ahead of the likes of Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, the top pick will come down to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions. For Hutchinson to stay within the state of Michigan, Detroit would have to lose to Green Bay on Sunday, while Jacksonville would need a win over Indianapolis.

All of that assumes Hutchinson is taken No. 1 overall.

From a betting perspective, Vegas agrees with McShay about who will hear their name said first come April. Hutchinson was -110 back in December but was more closely associated with a couple of quarterbacks.

Coming out of high school, Hutchinson was the No. 1 player from the state of Michigan according to the On3 Consensus. He was just on the outside of being ranked a top 100 prospect, coming in at No. 105, and was the No. 15 overall defensive lineman in the 2018 class. It’s safe to say Hutchinson lived up to the hype for the Wolverines.