What Dane Brugler says about Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill

The 2022 NFL Draft is now just weeks away with as many as three Michigan football players considered potential first-round prospects. The class is headlined by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who is the betting favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic released his 2022 draft guide, aptly titled “The Beast,” on Thursday morning. Hutchinson leaves the evaluation process as the No. 1 overall prospect. Defensive back Daxton Hill came in at No. 20, while EDGE rusher David Ojabo ranked 43rd. Ojabo’s Achilles injury at Michigan’s pro day sent him down in the final draft rankings.

Brugler’s guide is extensive and as detailed as it gets. Here is what he had to say about the three Wolverines that lead the draft class.

EDGE defender Aidan Hutchinson

“A three-year starter at Michigan, Hutchinson lined up primarily as an edge rusher in former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s multiple front, standing up and rushing from the left and right side. Considered a mid-first rounder entering the 2021 season, he surpassed expectations with his All-American senior year, finishing third in the FBS with a single-season Michigan record 14.0 sacks. Hutchinson wins in multiple ways, with the power in his upper half to overwhelm blockers but also the agile feet and hand technique to quickly disengage. He is wired the right way with the competitive play personality that raises the level of his teammates (Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh: “He is one of my absolute favorite guys that I’ve coached and for all the right reasons.”).

“Overall, Hutchinson doesn’t have the same bend or arc skills as the Bosa brothers, but he wins with similar quickness, power and skilled hand play to be productive as both a pass rusher and run defender. He projects as a disruptive, scheme-proof NFL starter.“

EDGE defender David Ojabo

“A one-year starter at Michigan, Ojabo was a stand-up edge rusher in former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s multiple scheme that he brought from the Baltimore Ravens. After moving to the U.S. and discovering football in 2017, he followed in the footsteps of his high school teammate Odafe Oweh and blossomed on the football field, including his breakout season at Michigan in 2021 with 11.0 sacks (second in the Big Ten behind Aidan Hutchinson) and five forced fumbles (Michigan record and first in the Big Ten).

“An athletic rusher with a long, nimble frame, Ojabo has the balanced feet and hip flexibility, which were developed from years of basketball and soccer training, to work tight spaces and grease the edge as a pass rusher. His defensive role shouldn’t be restricted to only rushing the passer, but he needs to improve his functional strength and body positioning to make plays in the run game.

“Overall, Ojabo is admittedly “still learning” various aspects of football, but he is naturally explosive with the upfield burst and stride length to overwhelm tackles with arc speed. He will be a subpackage rusher when he returns from his achilles injury and offers down-the-road Pro Bowl upside as a hybrid linebacker.“

Defensive back Daxton Hill

“A three-year starter at Michigan, Hill lined up as the slot nickel in former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s man-zone scheme. His role and impact steadily grew each of the past three seasons in Ann Arbor, culminating in a standout 2021 season where he led the team in both passes defended and interceptions. Hill plays with the athletic twitch and transitional quickness to interchangeably play slot-man, deep safety or in the box and can just as easily lay licks in the run game as he can cover the slot fade. He displays the competitive temperament and awareness to smother in zone or man, although he can do a better job exploding through his target as a tackler or blitzer.

“Overall, Hill might not have elite size or length, but his versatile package of skills (athletic range, toughness, football IQ) make him the ideal nickel defender in today’s NFL. He should be a rookie starter as either a split safety or slot defender.“

When Michigan players will be drafted

The 2022 NFL Draft is set for Las Vegas, Nevada from April 28-30. The first round will take place on Thursday with second and third rounds set for Friday. The event wraps up Saturday with rounds four through seven. NFL Network and ESPN will have wall-to-wall coverage of the three-day event.