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Now that the 2021 NFL draft is in the books, all eyes are moving to who could be top selections in 2022.
The past three years, Michigan football has put at least one player into the first round of the draft, with Devin Bush Jr. and Rashan Gary going in 2019, Cesar Ruiz in 2020 and Kwity Paye being picked in the opening round of 32 this year. Will the Wolverines keep the streak going?
And that player from Michigan? Aidan Hutchinson — who would be teaming up with former Wolverines standout Jabrill Peppers with the New York Giants according to this mock draft.
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
The Giants get back-to-back picks here, and we’ll start them off with a pass-rusher. I loved the value of getting edge rusher Azeez Ojulari in the second round last week, but I’d like to see more on that defensive front. Enter Hutchinson, who was creeping up my 2021 board before suffering a fractured leg in November and returning to school for another season. He’s 6-foot-6 and 269 pounds, and he had 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2019.
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In 2021, Hutchinson will have to be the star at defensive end/outside linebacker without his former partner in crime Kwity Paye, who obviously cemented himself as a top talent given his first-round selection this year. Still, at the moment, Hutchinson appears to be the only shoo-in to be picked early, lest junior Daxton Hill live up to his lofty five-star ranking.
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