Mel Kiper believes Michigan defender has huge upside

Mel Kiper heaped praise on Michigan defender David Ojabo in his 2022 NFL Mock Draft. According to Kiper, Ojabo has immense potential that NFL teams won’t let sit in the green room for long come April.

After mocking Ojabo to the New York Giants at No. 7, Kiper explained his thought process regarding the Michigan defender.

“This is where you get the pass rusher and David Ojabo from Michigan,” stated Kiper, selecting Ojabo for the Giants. “Yeah, Aidan Hutchinson on one side — dynamic. So was this kid. First year as the guy full-time out there getting after the quarterback. Limited in football background, didn’t play football until his junior year in high school. 11 sacks. Five forced fumbles.

“What a player he was. He’s going to keep getting better and better. Opposite of Ojulari that could give the Giants a lot of ability to get after the quarterback.”

As you can see, Kiper thinks highly of the Michigan pass rusher. As the Giants attempt to return their pass rush to the days of Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck, perhaps Ojabo can be the next in a long line of greats.

With so much untapped potential, one franchise will be very happy when they select David Ojabo in April.

Kiper on Aidan Hutchinson: ‘Should be the top pick in the draft.’

While Kiper likes David Ojabo a lot, he believes his teammate Aidan Hutchinson should be the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. After Hutchinson put together a monster season for Michigan, it’s easy to see why Kiper is so high on him.

To Kiper, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end Hutchinson is the best overall prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft class and is exactly who the Jacksonville Jaguars need as the organization tries to turn things around in the future.

“I think Aidan Hutchinson, the defensive end from Michigan,” Kiper said when asked who should be the top pick in the draft. “I think the body of work, the production, the intensity, the consistency, being disruptive against the pass, getting after the quarterback, being a great leader, setting a great tone for that defense. The guy was the tone-setter for what that defense was able to accomplish.

“I think if you look at Aidan Hutchinson, he gives you that, ‘Hey, I’m coming to work. I’m the guy that’s going to show up for every game and give you a similar performance level.’ I think when you look at Aidan Hutchinson, I give him the slight edge there over Kayvon Thibodeaux, defensive end from Oregon, who I would put in that second spot.”

As a senior for Michigan last season, Hutchinson recorded 62 total tackles, 14 sacks and two forced fumbles to help lead the Wolverines to an outstanding 12-2 season that included a Big Ten championship win and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Over four total seasons in Ann Arbor, Hutchinson – a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit – made 155 total tackles, 18.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.