Where Michigan football players checked in on Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft
Several former Michigan players are set to take their chance at the NFL, and two in particular were projected to go in the first round in the latest mock draft from ESPN.com analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
While some are suggesting the Jacksonville Jaguars will select an offensive lineman with the No. 1 overall pick, Kiper the team to go with former Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
RELATED
• What to make of Jim Harbaugh – Michigan standstill, latest Raiders news
• What will a Mike Elston-coached Michigan DL look like? It starts with family, effort and attitude
The Wolverine star was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, registered a program-record 14 sacks and racked up 62 total tackles during the 2021 season.
“At this time last year, the Jags were starting a rebuild under a new coach and … they’re back at the same spot,” Kiper wrote. “Urban Meyer didn’t even last a full season. I wrote last January that this wasn’t going to be a quick fix, and they’re not much closer to contending, hence back-to-back No. 1 picks. I do think they have their quarterback, even though Trevor Lawrence had a mostly abysmal rookie season.
“So if the Jaguars get first dibs on any prospect in this draft, I’d go with Hutchinson; I have him ranked slightly ahead of Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Hutchinson, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, is a dominant and consistent pass-rusher who can put up double-digit sacks as a rookie. He’s a safe No. 1 pick.
“They can play him on the other side of [outside linebacker] Josh Allen, who is a really nice player. Now, there could be some talk about the Jags taking a left tackle here, but I’m not buying that over the value of having a truly great edge rusher. Yes, left tackle might be more of a ‘need,’ but they should take the best prospect, not fill the biggest need.”
Meanwhile, Kiper projected former Michigan outside linebacker David Ojabo to go off the board at No. 7 overall to the New York Giants. More of a pass-rush specialist, Ojabo notched 11 sacks of his own and set the Wolverines’ single-season record with five forced fumbles.
He was the third-highest rated edge rusher, behind Hutchinson at No. 1 and Thibodeaux at No. 2.
“It’s always tough to project for teams that haven’t hired new general managers, so here’s my thinking for this pick, which comes from the Bears in the Justin Fields trade up last year: The Giants have some solid options on defense, but it’s fair to say they underperformed as a unit in 2021,” Kiper explained. “The best way to get better as a whole? Pressure the quarterback, which helps every level of the defense. Rookie second-round pick Azeez Ojulari had a nice season, leading the team with eight sacks, but they don’t have another top-tier edge rusher on the other side.
“Ojabo can help the pass rush immediately. He had an incredibly impressive season, racking up 11 sacks and five forced fumbles while playing opposite my projected No. 1 pick, Aidan Hutchinson. He doesn’t have Hutchinson’s all-around game — he has to get better against the run — but as a pure pass-rusher, he has a very high ceiling. With these two top-seven selections, New York can get high-end starters on both sides of the ball.”
Michigan safety Daxton Hill has been projected as a first-round pick by other publications — including in The Athletic‘s recent mock draft — but did not appear in Kiper’s top 32.
