Michigan football players in the 2022 NFL Draft after deadline passes

Michigan football’s 2022 class of potential NFL Draftees is set after the deadline to declare early on Jan. 17 passed. The Wolverines get most of their contributors back next season, but project to send a nice representation of Maize and Blue to the next level.

Now that everyone who is in has declared, here is a quick rundown of Michigan’s NFL hopefuls.

Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE (Projected top-three pick)

It would be stunning if Hutchinson slid out of the top three at this point. Mock drafts have slotted him No. 1 overall for weeks, which we now know to be the Jacksonville Jaguars. The runner-up in the Heisman Trophy race and unanimous All-American had 14 sacks for Michigan this season. While potentially a notch below some of the generation pass rush prospects of years past, Hutchinson looks like a Pro Bowl talent that can be the face of a defense for years to come.

David Ojabo, EDGE (Projected first round pick)

Ojabo, who declared early, had 11 sacks playing next to Hutchinson on Michigan football’s defense, rocketing him up draft boards. He is not an every-down defender right now, but he has the tools that suggest his best football is ahead. Most mocks have him firmly in the first round with slots ranging from a top ten pick to somewhere in the 25-32 range.

Daxton Hill, safety (Projected 1st-2nd round pick)

Versatility is the name of the game for the Michigan defensive back. The Wolverines lined him up at safety, cornerback and nickel in his time in Ann Arbor. Hill, a former five-star recruit, felt strongly enough about his play through three years to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. He should be one of the first safeties off the board and has a chance to hear his name called on night one.

Andrew Stueber, offensive line (Projected mid-round pick)

Michigan got rock-solid play out of its senior right tackle in 2021, though a kick inside to guard could be best for an NFL transition. Regardless, a team is going to grab a high-effort, physical player and former team captain that has a chance to start in the right situation. Stueber feels like a safe bet to be a longtime pro, even if it comes in a reserve role. He is one of Michigan’s two participants in this year’s Senior Bown in Mobile, Alabama.

Hassan Haskins, running back (Projected mid-round pick)

The team that lands Haskins could be grabbing one of the steals of the draft. Nobody will mistake him for Alvin Kamara or Christian McCaffrey. What the NFL will get is a physical runner with a little more juice than one might think, while also being a strong pass blocker and special teams piece. Haskins seems tailor-made for a two-back system and should find a home somewhere in the middle rounds. He will also be at the Senior Bowl.

Michigan football’s other potential pros

Josh Ross, linebacker: His name has begun to appear in some mock draft simulations in the sixth and seventh rounds. Ross had an opportunity to return for a sixth season at Michigan but elected to move on.

Brad Hawkins, safety: It would not be a surprise to see Hawkins sneak into the backend of the draft. He was extremely valuable on the backend of the defense and one would think he at the very least gets an undrafted free agent look.

Christopher Hinton, defensive tackle: He declared early, which was a stunner. Hinton was a solid contributor for Michigan’s defensive front this year, he just had not shown up on any prospect boards. His father is a former NFL player, so perhaps those connections revealed something we do not know.

Andrew Vastardis, center: People will turn on the film of Stueber and Haskins and see a vastly improved Vastardis. He has a shot to impress someone as a depth piece during the pre-draft process.

Vincent Gray, cornerback: He passed on two years of remaining eligibility to take a chance on himself for the NFL. Like Hinton, he was much-improved and a solid contributor but had not received much draft buzz.

Daylen Baldwin, wide receiver: He never quite cracked the lineup enough to be a major contributor, but Baldwin used his year at Michigan to get top-flight coaching and training. He has the athletic profile and get a camp invite somewhere.