Where Michigan football's prospects went in pre-combine mock draft simulation
Michigan football prospects are preparing to showcase their talents at the 2022 NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis. This serves as the lynchpin event of the draft process and will help teams round out their boards after medical testing, prospect meetings and on-field work.
Seven Wolverines appeared in the latest mock draft simulation we ran on The Draft Network. Here is a rundown of Michigan’s NFL talent in our latest dip into the 2022 draft.
Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE: First round, No. 3 overall, Houston Texans
This is the first time that Hutchinson appeared outside the top two recently. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected offensive tackle Evan Neal out of Alabama and the Detroit Lions went with Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. The Texans would likely love that scenario with a J.J. Watt-type of leader and pass rusher falling to them. The Michigan edge defender set a program record with 14 sacks in 2021 and was a team captain, giving whoever selects him a potential franchise cornerstone.
David Ojabo, EDGE: First round, No. 17 overall, Los Angeles Chargers
Ojabo is raw and has a lot of work to do in becoming an every-down player, but the tools and production from this season still make him a more than worthy first-round prospect. It was hard to project his stock going much higher, so the decision to declare early was not surprising. Very few mock drafts from around the internet have him falling outside of the top 20 picks.
Daxton Hill, safety: First round, No. 24 overall, Dallas Cowboys
Hill is a name to watch this week in Indianapolis. People are starting to catch up with what he put on film at Michigan and the variety of roles that he operated in. Throw in the fact that he should test off the charts and he profiles as a player that could be the second safety off the board behind Notre Dame’s Hamilton.
Andrew Stueber, offensive tackle: Fourth round, No. 123 overal, Miami Dolphins
The former Michigan offensive tackle had a great week at the Senior Bowl and has proven to be one of the steadier lineman prospects in the class. Stueber was a riser on draft boards throughout the year and seems to have rounded into a potential mid-round/early day three pick. He likely cannot fully answer if he is a guard or tackle at the next level this week, but the athletic testing will paint a good picture for him.
Hassan Haskins, running back: Fifth round, No. 146 overall, New York Giants
Haskins is as rock-solid of a running back prospect as it gets and one Michigan will miss greatly. The one knock against him might be breakaway speed, but what he lacks there he makes up for in power, pass protection and the ability to be a factor on special teams. He was not able to participate in the Senior Bowl due to an ankle injury, so this will be a big week of workouts and meetings for him.
Joshua Ross, linebacker: Seventh round, No. 223 overall, Cincinnati Bengals
He was the captain of Michigan football’s defense next to Hutchinson and did a solid job inside. Ross had a chance to return for a sixth season in Ann Arbor, but instead is set to be a prospect that either comes off the board late or gets a camp invite somewhere.
Christopher Hinton, defensive tackle: Seventh round, No. 248 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
Hinton’s decision to declare remains one of the bigger headscratchers of the offseason. That is not to say he is not a good football player. He is and was stout in his duties for the Wolverines in 2021. To declare as a junior and potentially be a late-round pick seems like it could be leaving some potential (and money) on the table. However, Hinton has an NFL pedigree and perhaps connections and film study could have a team much higher on him than this. We will have to wait and see what happens, but Kansas City is a good landing spot for any prospect.
