Finding ideal fits for Michigan Football players in 2022 NFL draft

After winning the Big Ten and making their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoffs, a handful of Wolverines are set to begin their NFL careers. We break down an ideal landing spot for each of Michigan football’s noteworthy NFL prospects. 

The Wolverines have traditionally developed a ton of NFL stars and draft selections, most notably the greatest NFL player of all time in Tom Brady.

This offseason will be no different with pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo leading the way here. Beyond them, though, there are multiple Michigan football players who could find their name called this upcoming April, when the NFL holds its annual draft. We take a look at a landing spot for each of them:

EDGE Aidan Hutchinson – Detroit Lions (1.2)

Hutchinson is certainly in contention for the #1 overall selection. But without knowing who the Jaguars head coach even is, we are going to suggest Dan Campbell and the local Detroit Lions as an ideal fit for Hutchinson.

The Lions switched over to a similar scheme as what Michigan football ran last year, an aggressive, versatile 3-4 defense that will allow Hutchinson to do what he does best and wreck havoc on the opposing team’s passing game.

And given the fiery demeanor that Hutchinson played with during his career in Ann Arbor, it would not be difficult to see him and Lions head coach Dan Campbell hitting it off instantly. Hutchinson is the type of instant impact, culture-changing player that the Lions desperately need this cycle.

Other fits: Jacksonville Jaguars (1.1), Houston Texans (1.3)

EDGE David Ojabo – New York Jets (1.10)

Not too often do you see two prospects at the same position from the same school going in the first round, but that’s exactly what we are expecting from Michigan football’s dynamic duo of pass rushers this year. The ideal fit, in my opinion, is for Ojabo to end up in the Big Apple with Michigan native Robert Saleh, the former defensive coordinator of the 49ers.

Saleh employs a standard 4-3 front, but the unique aspect here is that he does so using wide-9 techniques from his edge rushers, spreading them out to give them a lot of space to rush the quarterback. This in turn requires them to be tremendous athletes, capable of closing ground in a hurry. That’s exactly what Ojabo does well, and why he would make a nice addition for the Jets defense.

Other fits: Atlanta Falcons (1.8), Los Angeles Chargers (1.17)