Todd McShay makes bold statement on Michigan's David Ojabo ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft

With the 2022 NFL Draft on the horizon, many Michigan fans are excited to see Aidan Hutchinson possibly go No. 1 overall. However, the Wolverines have another star on defense — ESPN’s Todd McShay is a believer in edge rusher David Ojabo.

On the SportsCenter NFL Draft Special on Tuesday, McShay mentioned he believes Ojabo is a top ten selection.

“At No. 10, the Philadelphia Eagles, I think they need edge rusher and you’ve got one here with David Ojabo,” McShay stated, mock drafting Ojabo to Philadelphia. “He’s a guy that just exploded onto the scene this past year. 

“I think he has the best first step and fastest closing burst of any edge rusher in this class. And this class is loaded with pass rushers.”

Moreover, McShay believes Ojabo would enter the perfect situation with the Eagles. The Michigan star could learn from veterans while developing his raw, untapped talent.

“Brandon Graham will be 34 years old return from the Achilles injury next year. So, the Eagles need a guy to step up — Ojabo is still developing,” stated McShay. “You know, as a junior in high school is the first time he played football. He’s still developing in terms of the run game, but he can come in right away and be an impact pass rusher. Plus, I love the fact that he had five forced fumbles.  

“This guy gets to the quarterback, and he explodes through the quarterback. He might knock a few loose in the NFL as a rookie.”

Ojabo has been a star in the making for the Wolverines. While he may have been overshadowed by Hutchinson this season, at the next level he could develop into a premier pass rusher.

David Ojabo: Flying up boards for the 2022 NFL Draft

Coming into the season, Ojabo wasn’t on the radar for many teams. However, it’s evident that the Michigan star is now a highly-regarded star for teams in search of a pass rusher.

On the season, Ojabo amassed a lofty 11 sacks for Michigan. More impressive than that, the Wolverines star also forced five fumbles on the season. As you can see, he was a terrifying player for opposing teams to go up against.

Moreover, his raw talent has reminded experts of Jason Pierre-Paul when he was drafted by the New York Giants. At the time, Pierre-Paul was regarded for his immense athletic talent, rather than his pass-rushing prowess. Of course, Pierre-Paul developed into one of the leagues best — still wreaking havoc on offenses a decade later.

Time will tell which team is able to get their hands on David Ojabo. The sky is the limit for the young pass rusher, and one team will be counting their lucky stars he fell into their laps.