Recent remarks by Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson regarding speculation about a potential trade for Myles Garrett have raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
During his appearance at the NFL Honors ceremony—where he not only walked the red carpet but also served as a presenter—Hutchinson was asked by the Detroit Free Press about the possibility of the Cleveland Browns defensive star joining the Lions. His response? “You can’t have that many dudes on one D-line. I don’t know. Who knows, but I think it’s very unlikely.”
His answer left sports radio host Mike Valenti and co-host Rico Beard stunned. They found it unusual for a standout player to downplay the idea of adding another elite talent to his unit.
“Have you ever heard a great player say they didn’t want to be surrounded by other great players?” Valenti questioned.
Replaying Hutchinson’s comments, both radio personalities reacted with disbelief, suggesting the response could have been handled much better given that professional athletes are trained to navigate tough media questions.
“It’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Just straight away,” Valenti said. “If you want to say it’s above your pay grade, or you want to stay out of it, I get it. If you want to say, ‘Hell yeah, I’d love to have him, but clearly that decision is made above my head,’ cool. But I’ve never heard a great player say, ‘Nah, we don’t really need that. Can’t have too many great guys on a D-line.’ No one, ever.”
Valenti also speculated that Hutchinson’s response could be rooted in wanting to establish himself as the leader of the defense while maximizing his financial opportunities.
If Detroit were to acquire Garrett, the financial implications could be significant, as the All-Pro pass rusher might demand a contract exceeding $45 million per year. The Lions have already made a substantial investment in their defensive line, recently signing Alim McNeill to a four-year, $97 million extension.
Interestingly, a photo later surfaced showing Hutchinson chatting with Garrett and quarterback Jared Goff, sparking speculation about potential recruitment efforts to bring another top-tier talent to Detroit.
