Heading into the 2021 season, Michigan defensive end David Ojabo was an unheralded NFL Draft prospect who had seen limited action in 2020. Though Heisman finalist Aidan Hutchinson often stole the show on Michigan’s defensive line, Ojabo produced a fantastic breakout season as well, ending the year with eleven sacks and declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft. Ojabo is a prospect I grade in the mid-first round range and appears on the border of the top ten in mock drafts currently, but I have reason to believe he will actually be a top-five selection based on what I see on tape and what I’ve heard from NFL Draft analysts. Starting with the tape, Ojabo has natural athletic traits to rush the passer that rank at the very top of this high-quality edge class. He flies around the edge with great burst and bend. These athletic traits are highly valued by NFL evaluators and I expect Ojabo’s draft stock to continue to rise when he records elite numbers at the NFL combine. He is still a raw prospect who needs to develop his technique and add muscle to improve his run defense but NFL scouts will salivate at the pure upside he presents due to his athleticism. Not only does Ojabo match the profile of a defensive end that rises throughout the process and typically goes in the top ten selections but we are already hearing buzz from very reliable reporters that Ojabo could even land in the earlier portion of the top ten. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has stated that Ojabo has a wide variety of grades from teams around the league but that the upper portion of the grades resides in the early part of round 1. Additionally, Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline claims that Ojabo is likely to be drafted ahead of fellow edge rusher George Karlaftis, who he projects in the top eight picks. He adds that Ojabo may go in the six picks, even possibly to the Jets, who hold the fourth pick. This is made even more understandable when it is considered that this is a draft class that lacks the typical amount of true top-ten talents. Thus, while mock drafts have not quite caught on to the extent of love that Ojabo has from scouts across the NFL, do not be surprised if his tantalizing athleticism and pass-rushing upside lead to him being one of the first five names to be called on the opening night of the draft.
Sources
- Cover Image: https://www.maizenbrew.com/football/2022/1/25/22900388/michigan-wolverines-football-2022-nfl-draft-profile-david-ojabo
