PFF NFL Draft Big Board: Hutchinson at #1
PFF's resident NFL draft expert updated his Big Board and well well well look who's #1. Link here: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2022-nfl-draft-board-big-board
Michigan players included are:
#1 - Aidan Hutchinson
#15 - David Ojabo
#37 - Daxton Hill
#98 - Brad Hawkins
November 29th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
Heisman.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
#AidanForHeisman
November 29th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
Write-ups for Hutchinson, Ojabo, and Hill below.
"1. EDGE AIDAN HUTCHINSON, MICHIGAN
Call it an overreaction to the weekend if you want, but I see it as more of a culmination. Hutchinson has been playing the elite brand of football we saw against Ohio State all season, but this past weekend's showing just happened to come on the biggest stage against arguably the best tackle he’s faced all year in Nicholas Petit-Frere. Hutchinson finished with 15 pressures against the Buckeyes in Week 13 and is the highest-graded defender in the country."
"15. EDGE DAVID OJABO, MICHIGAN
If you called this breakout from Ojabo, I don’t believe you. After playing only 26 snaps in all of his Michigan career before 2021, Ojabo has broken out with an 89.3 pass-rushing grade this season."
"37. S DAXTON HILL, MICHIGAN
Hill has some serious wheels and man coverage ability for a safety. He impressed this season by switching to a slot corner role and breaking up six passes while picking off two others."
November 29th, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
I'm surprised to see Hill so high. I felt like Jaxon Smith-Njigba took his lunch money on Saturday. Not just because JSN caught so many passes but also because Dax missed a couple tackles too. JSN has done that all year against everyone so I'm trying to not hold it against Dax too much but JSN won that battle for sure.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
JSN is the best slot receiver in the country and it isn't even close. I would go as far as to say that there is not even a #2 slot in the conversation. He has gone for 30 yard + TD runs (sometimes more than one) in every OSU game that I watched this year. Unless he gets hurt, he will be a top 10 pick in the 2023 draft.
No shame in getting beat by that guy. My guess is that Daxton traded some yards for stopping the big play like the rest of the defense.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
JSN will probably be the 1st WR off the board in his draft year (23) He might be the best WR in the country right now - hell they may have 3 of the top 7 in the country.
Hill is a safety not a corner. That's a crazy task he won't be facing in the NFL - JXN will be facing CB1 or at worst CB2.
November 29th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
Jeez, make is sound like Hill was getting dusted out there.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
So Hutchinson will be a Lion?
November 29th, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
Don't do that to our sweet boy.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
He could follow the Ndamukong Suh career path and play for the Lions for ~5 years before Tom Brady wins him a super bowl in 2031.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
Good lord, for his sake, please no
November 29th, 2021 at 2:20 PM ^
They'd probably use the #1 pick on a tight end or something--Hutch will be ok.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
The Jets, Giants, and Eagles will all have two top-15 picks. Maybe one of them will decide that they desperately need Hutch or Thibodeaux.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:45 PM ^
With these three options, I seriously consider cutting my own Achilles. Don't get me wrong, NY or Philadelphia are both amazing places to live, but the state of these three teams would make me rethink it.
November 29th, 2021 at 4:07 PM ^
November 29th, 2021 at 7:09 PM ^
Will be pulling for my Lions to take Thibodeaux for Aidan’s sake. But honestly he is the kind of culture setter the Lions need desperately.
November 29th, 2021 at 8:04 PM ^
PFF isn't the only one that thinks so.
November 29th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
Uh.....love seeing our players listed there. But Brad Hawkins as roughly a late third or early fourth round pick? Nope. Love Brad to death and really happy he came back this year and is such a steady player in the secondary, but he's a late round pick at best.
The others seem decent, though probably a few places too high for each once the lower level guys and combine stats come out.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
I had the same response.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
I'm surprised by this. Hawkins has been everywhere for us this season, probably our most consistent non-DE on the team. PFF has loved him, I'm surprised so many M fans haven't recognized this.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:38 PM ^
Is it really all that different than Delano Hill being drafted in the third round?
November 29th, 2021 at 4:56 PM ^
Was going to bring up Hill. Safeties are difficult to judge hence why several fans were saying Hawkins was a liability against OSU. He will be missed.
November 29th, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^
I think it will be very different once we see their 40 times.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
I'm sure they meant 100, and 150 for Ojabo. They should definitely comeback for another year.
Seriously, though, go get paid young men.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:16 PM ^
Aidan, Ojabo and Dax are all coming back next year to go back-to-back championships in the B1G & CFP
November 29th, 2021 at 2:05 PM ^
I question if Ojabo would be so successful without Hutchinson, but no question he has been great.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:10 PM ^
I do honestly believe that another year in Ann Arbor, learning more about the games fundamentals and improving his run stop play, would skyrocket him up draft charts. Sort of like what it did for Hutch.
I don't think he stays, but it would make him a few more million$$ if he did.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:25 PM ^
I highly doubt that. Keep in mind, coming back mean he's passing on whatever his salary would be next year, and if he's a first rounder, that's already a few million he'd be leaving on the table. And his stock can't go a whole lot higher, and could drop just as easily, being the main point of focus on the D next season.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
Plus, the sooner you go pro, the sooner you're eligible for the second contract, which is where the bigger money is (so long as teams want to sign you). Given the toll of football on the body, it makes a lot of sense to go as early as you have grade in the first round.
(It would arguably make sense to stay if he thought he could jump into the top 7, the 7th pick is a $9 million difference over the 15th pick over the life of the contract, but he'd likely make up that difference in a second contract).
Anyway, here's the rookie contract pay scale...
https://www.sportico.com/personalities/athletes/2021/2021-nfl-draft-rookie-contracts-for-lawrence-wilson-and-first-round-pick-1234628613/
November 29th, 2021 at 2:28 PM ^
I highly doubt that. Keep in mind, coming back mean he's passing on whatever his salary would be next year, and if he's a first rounder, that's already a few million he'd be leaving on the table. And his stock can't go a whole lot higher, and could drop just as easily, being the main point of focus on the D next season.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:29 PM ^
I highly doubt that. Keep in mind, coming back mean he's passing on whatever his salary would be next year, and if he's a first rounder, that's already a few million he'd be leaving on the table. And his stock can't go a whole lot higher, and could drop just as easily, being the main point of focus on the D next season.
November 29th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
You can't skyrocket much higher than 15th overall.
November 29th, 2021 at 5:16 PM ^
There’s only so room much to skyrocket when you’re being talked about in the middle of the first round. Much further to fall.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
He's done everything the Heisman says it stands for. And, for a Defensive End, he has the stat line that pops off the sheet and hits you in the face. If he's not a front-runner, the people that decide what the Heisman Trophy stands for need to reassess whatever it is they're doing...
November 29th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
Ojabo is an interesting player. Based on where he falls in round 1, another Season with a Hutchinson-like year could put him top 3.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:12 PM ^
No Linemen? No Haskins?
November 29th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^
Haskins will never be a top 3 round selection. He's just not athletic enough. Not enough speed or agility. He never goes down on first contact and fights for yards like no one I've ever seen in my life but he's a 6th round pick at best because of his lack of athleticism.
Good news is he's likely to stay another year because of it.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:59 PM ^
Agreed. RB's are not at a premium in the NFL like years past. Even top RB prospects are lucky to get drafted late 1st-early 2nd round.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
PFF grades Haskins as #2 RB in CFB
December 1st, 2021 at 6:01 PM ^
That's "in CFB". Not in the draft. 2 different things.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:13 PM ^
Is it a forgone conclusion that Dax is gone? Did he participate in "senior day"?
November 29th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
Your move, Detroit Lions.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^
Michigan's becoming DE U all of a sudden. I'm going to forget several guys but you've got Wormley, Paye, Uche, Gary, Hutchinson, Ojabo, and guys I'm forgetting all within like 5 years of each other
November 29th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
How you gonna leave out Chase Winovich? And he wasn't even a DE but Mo Hurst is one of the most dominant interior lineman I've ever had the pleasure to watch.
The DE's next year have an incredible legacy to live up to
November 29th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
They’ve got Detroit taking Thibodeaux at #1 and Hutchinson at #5! I am 100% onboard with this.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
ruining two promising careers in one draft. A very Loins thing to do.
November 29th, 2021 at 2:37 PM ^
I've been saying this all year to my Lions-loving family members -- since there is no true #1 QB (a la Trevor Lawrence last year) -- they should draft Hutchinson. They can get a Goff replacement with the Rams pick they have later in the 1st round.
An edge rusher who can put pressure on the QB is the second most important position on the field; Hutch can do that, along with playing well against the run, and he has a first-class motor. That is all what the Lions need. Plus, the cherry on top is he's from Metro Detroit, so hopefully helping the Lions succeed would be special to him (but that's just a nicety -- if Thibs was better, than you draft him; he's not, so draft Hutchison).
November 29th, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
I think Daxton Hill come back and refine his technique with Clarksdale so he can be a first round pick.
November 29th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
This- great blitzer, elite closing speed on screens and attempts to get the edge vs him.
And honestly, his pass coverage isn't bad it seems he's jusssttt a half step or a fingertip away from breaking more passes up.
He would be the guy to benefit the most on coming back.
November 29th, 2021 at 3:08 PM ^
Hutchinson looked like someone who wouldn't merely play in the NFL, but thrive in it. If he's got five-star tackles with NFL aspirations spinning like turnstiles and falling on their butts, that quickness and strength translates to the pros on a level that isn't just, "OK, he belongs here."
OSU was holding him like crazy, and it still didn't matter. Ohio State was going all cheap like the barrel scum of the B1G and he was still getting to their QB. It's a pretty reasonable bet that no one in the NFL will be able to single-block him, either.