Aidan Hutchinson, Lions defensive end, had an exceptional rookie year with 9.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 52 tackles, resulting in a runner-up finish for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Now, he hopes that his fellow first-round draft pick, Jameson Williams, will have an explosive first full season with Detroit in 2023.
Despite tearing his ACL in his final college game, Williams was still predicted to be a top draft prospect in 2022 after an impressive season at Alabama. Detroit took a gamble and traded up to select him with the No. 12 pick, believing that his output on the field would outweigh the wait for him to recover from his injury. Williams did not make his debut until Week 13 and only played limited snaps over six games, but he showed glimpses of his potential with a noteworthy 41-yard touchdown catch in Week 14 and a 40-yard run in Week 17.
According to Hutchinson, Williams generated an immediate buzz when he started practicing again, and his first touchdown catch left the entire team excited for what's to come. With Williams fully recovered in 2023, he can expect to see a larger number of targets and contribute significantly to the Lions' offense, which was already ranked in the top five last season. The addition of another potential No. 1 WR to the lineup in Williams could make for a dangerous pass-catching duo alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Detroit missed the playoffs by a narrow margin in 2022 and is looking to build on a strong season. A fully healthy Williams contributing more big plays would undoubtedly be a significant boost in achieving that goal.
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