247 Gives 3 Wolverines 1st Round Draft Grades
Hutchinson, Ojaba, and Hill all gone in the first round per CBS/247Sports estimates:
1. DETROIT LIONS: DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON, MICHIGAN
(Photo: Getty)
It is hard to pinpoint one single player that has meant more for the Wolverines’ breakout 2021 season. He is omnipresent in opposing backfields and can singlehandedly disrupt an offense. The nation saw it in the 42-27 win over Ohio State. Hutchinson ended the afternoon with three sacks and a whopping 15 pressures. He also added a sack in this past Saturday's Big Ten title game win.
CBS Sports: "Hutchinson is a great example of a player who got better each and every season, and instead of coming out early he stayed in school, balled out as a senior, and made himself into arguably the best player — on either side of the ball — in the country during the '21 college football season."
14. DENVER BRONCOS: LB DAVID OJABO, MICHIGAN
(Photo: Getty)
Ojabo burst onto the scene this season, finishing the regular season with 11 sacks, 33 tackles, three pass breakups and five forced fumbles, going from a player who played just 26 snaps last season to a probable 2022 first-round NFL Draft pick.
25. Dallas Cowboys: DB Daxton Hill, Michigan
December 8th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
*Ojabo
I spelled it properly. Phone autocorrect decided to change it. ?
December 8th, 2021 at 10:35 AM ^
*OH - JA - BO!
December 8th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
Listening to Gus Johnson calling a game is an experience all by itself
December 8th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
It’s great when you’re winning because you get moments like “PEOPLES-JONES! DOWN THE SIDELINE! PEOPLES-JONES! TOUCHDOWN WOLVERINES!”
And great to hear knowing that he grew up a huge Michigan fan: https://twitter.com/danieldash_/status/1467363203164348426?s=21
But absolutely sucks to have him on the call when you’re losing and he’s giving that energy to the opposing team.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
Love him or hate him, he keeps the energy up no matter who is winning. He has that same energy for OSU when they stomp Michigan (in the past!) even though he grew up a Michigan fan. I can still hear his OLAVEEEEE!!!! as he's running by the secondary for a deep pass.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
Haskins will be invaluable in nfl. What an absolute warrior. I hope he goes to a place that actually values RBs. Watch John Harbaugh pick him in 3rd, 4th round.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Even without the Michigan tie, this is a great fit.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
Watch John Harbaugh pick him in 3rd, 4th round.
He does need a running back. Right now their most effective runner is the QB. Haskins would be a great fit.
December 8th, 2021 at 12:15 PM ^
He does have that RB that used to go to OSU;) Dobbins and Edwards got hurt before the season even began so I think they’ll just pick up where they left off last year. Haskins will be a stud in the league though!
December 8th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
That's kind of what I thought, too. Maybe he takes a late round flier if he's still there but he's already got Dobbins and Edwards and they should be fully healthy by the start of next season so I doubt Harbaugh would take Haskins in the middle rounds. Just wouldn't make a lot of sense.
I'm also personally not sure where Haskins fits into the NFL game. Putting my homerism aside, he doesn't have the typical speed you're looking for, and his athleticism, while good, doesn't jump off the page. He definitely brings some good traits to the table. Can churn out YAC, moves the pile, seems to always fall forward, so maybe there's a team out there that really needs a short yardage or goal line RB that you can always count on to get you 2-3 yards. But beyond that I don't know where he goes or the role he carves out for himself.
He should at least get a shot, but I'm guessing its closer to a Day 3 selection.
December 8th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
re: "his athleticism, while good, doesn't jump off the page"
You're right, it more hurdles off the page!
December 8th, 2021 at 12:31 PM ^
Doesn't Haskins have one more year of eligibility?
December 8th, 2021 at 12:37 PM ^
Technically, 2 years
December 8th, 2021 at 1:09 PM ^
I love Haskins, but we will see. It's hard to be a solid RB in the NFL and Haskins definitely doesn't have a top gear like some guys have. I honestly think of our 'big 3' running backs right now that he'll probably have the least productive NFL career
December 9th, 2021 at 9:41 AM ^
Dudes going to have long NFL career. Doesn't have the combine flashiness that's going drop the jaws of scouts but will be very valuable to many nfl teams
December 8th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
I do not want to see Hutchinson—or any Wolverine—end up with the Lions. Career dead-end.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
Hutchinson could have a decent career with the Lions. It’s not like talented offensive skill positions where the shittiness around you will make you also stink.
The projection I worry about is Dax Hill to the Cowboys because I hate the Cowboys.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:53 AM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if Dax is a Cowboys fan, having grown up in Oklahoma.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:14 AM ^
It’s not like talented offensive skill positions where the shittiness around you will make you also stink.
If Hutchinson doesn't have other talented DL to play next to, he'll be doubled or tripled every game. How successful is he going to be in that scenario?
And even if he is able to accumulate nice stats with the Lions, so what? Is he single-handedly going to turn them into a playoff contender?
December 8th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
McNeil, Levi, and Romeo Okwara are a nice DL. Add Hutch and Lions have best DL since Suh-Fairley-Avril
December 8th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
Career dead-end.
Not at all true. He won't win a lot of games or come close to sniffing a championship of any kind, but plenty of people have had excellent careers for the Lions.
Play out rookie contract then free agent to a massive contract with a big time team pushing for the Super Bowl.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
Welp back to the defensive drawing board next season.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
On the flip side, its a great selling point for recruits. You can tell them you had three first round picks on your defense in one season. Very few programs outside of maybe Alabama, OSU, Clemson or Georgia can do that, and even those programs don't do it every year.
You're always going to have to replace guys in college. Just the nature of the game. But running an NFL style defense that puts kids into the league and is showing tangible results on the field means you have a lot to sell to the guys you're hoping can come in replace your Aidan Hutchinsons, David Ojabos and Daxton Hills.
December 8th, 2021 at 1:10 PM ^
Michigan has cycled through talented DEs for a decade now. I don't know how exactly we keep doing this, but other guys will rise up
December 8th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
Not really. For instance, MacGregor isn't going to make us forget about Hutch but he likely will draw similar double-teams. This is a very talented returning roster. And while they will be young and inexperienced, in places, starting out by the end of the year they could well be better than this year.
December 8th, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
O-JA-BO
December 8th, 2021 at 10:49 AM ^
i have never heard of the Denver Broncos or Dallas Cowboys, this must be a hoax, Ojabo and Dax are coming back next year
December 8th, 2021 at 11:03 AM ^
Hill projects all over the place. I've seen him to the 3rd round and others early like this. I'm sure he will go pro, but for a guy like him, coming back to anchor a 2ndary with these now-freshman, then soph CBs will let him really shine (imo)... but risk reward. With him and ojabo coming back, our defense will be pretty great next year. even though we lose ross and hutch.
I gota think ojabo does the hutch route and waits a year - but... his value is hot right now... hard to pass that up. maybe the NIL money cannon can point to him and keep him financially comfy. O. JA. BO!
December 8th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
I think Dax could come back next year and potentially be the top safety in the 2023 draft. Wouldn't blame him either way though
December 8th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
Coaching has made a huge turn around compared to last year but based on that I expected him to declare for the draft and move up the board based on his athleticism. This year gave him better film to show what he can do.
December 8th, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
No inside information, but I wouldn't be shocked if Hill came back either. I'm sure he will test really well. From what I've seen, he's more of a Day 2 pick than Day 1. Still a great opportunity. He's been an amazing player for us this year, but he has made a couple mistakes here and there.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
I wouldn't be shocked if Hill came back because he seems a bit more scattered in the draft rankings, but otherwise I expect both ends to be gone on the first night. No complaints, obviously, as they've been instrumental in this team getting to where it is.
December 8th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
Now I can boldly say, win that fucking National Championship. Then go on to get drafted in the first round. That would be a hell of a season that we did not think will happen. Make it happen boys.