Tag: David Ojabo

Full 7-round Eagles mock 1.0 as we kick off the 2022 NFL draft season

Full 7-round #Philadelphia #Eagles #mockdraft 1.0 as we kick off the #NFLDraft2022 season with 7 versatile defenders and 3 additions on offense

The Eagles are heading off into an intriguing 2022 NFL offseason that features three-first round picks, valuable salary-cap space, and several different routes the franchise can choose to follow.

If Jalen Hurts is the quarterback for at least the next calendar year, then Philadelphia could choose to build around the quarterback, they could push a first-round pick back to 2023 where the quarterback will be much more talented, or they could all-in on a player like Russell Wilson or DeShaun Watson.

It’ll be an interesting lead-up to April’s NFL draft and we’re adding to the fun with our first full seven-round mock draft 1.0.

In our first seven-round mock draft using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, we avoided making any trades in this first version, choosing to fully restock a roster that has holes on both sides of the ball, utilizing seven of the 10 picks on high-profile, and highly versatile defensive players.

Giants nab OT, LB in Mel Kiper’s first 2022 mock draft

In the first mock draft by Mel Kiper Jr., the New York Giants add an offensive tackle and pass rushing linebacker.

In a mini-mock draft conduct by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay earlier this month, the New York Giants ended up selecting NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu.

That was as far as Kiper and McShay took it at the time but on Wednesday, the former released his first mock draft of 2022. And in it, Kiper has the Giants staying true to his earlier pick.

5. New York Giants

Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

There has been a lot of recent buzz around Ekwonu, whose stock is rising. He dominated at left tackle for the Wolfpack this season after playing some guard earlier in his career. Based on the 2021 tape, there’s not much separating Ekwonu from Evan Neal, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ekwonu was the top tackle off the board in April. He has All-Pro potential as a run-blocker and as a pass-blocker.

For the Giants — who haven’t yet replaced coach Joe Judge or general manager Dave Gettleman — this would be top-five tackles in two of the past three drafts, but even though Andrew Thomas played better this season, the right tackle spot is far from settled. They just have to get better up front, and taking Ekwonu is a step toward that. Like the Jets, they have two top-10 picks, and they could go offense with the No. 7 selection.

With the second of their two first-round picks, Kiper has the Giants going with a name we’ve not seen mocked to the team yet: Michigan linebacker David Ojabo.

7. New York Giants (via CHI)

David Ojabo, OLB, Michigan

It’s always tough to project for teams that haven’t hired new general managers, so here’s my thinking for this pick, which comes from the Bears in the Justin Fields trade up last year: The Giants have some solid options on defense, but it’s fair to say they underperformed as a unit in 2021. The best way to get better as a whole? Pressure the quarterback, which helps every level of the defense. Rookie second-round pick Azeez Ojulari had a nice season, leading the team with eight sacks, but they don’t have another top-tier edge rusher on the other side.

Ojabo can help the pass rush immediately. He had an incredibly impressive season, racking up 11 sacks and five forced fumbles while playing opposite my projected No. 1 pick, Aidan Hutchinson. He doesn’t have Hutchinson’s all-around game — he has to get better against the run — but as a pure pass-rusher, he has a very high ceiling. With these two top-seven selections, New York can get high-end starters on both sides of the ball.

The edge rush is certainly an area the Giants need to address, but should it come at the expense of the offensive line? That will be the debate when the Giants are on the clock at No. 7 overall. The reality is, they need at least three new offensive linemen, but they absolutely must add to their lacking pass rush as well.

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2022 NFL draft: Chargers Wire’s top-10 positional rankings on defense

Seeking to shore up the defensive side of the ball, take a look at a handful of prospects who could be on the Chargers’ radar.

In Brandon Staley’s first year as head coach, the Chargers made the point to add pieces around Justin Herbert.

Now, after finishing 26th in defensive DVOA, Los Angeles will look to get the pieces to match Staley’s personnel for better results next season.

Luckily, the 2022 NFL draft offers plenty of star power and depth at multiple positions on defense.

To get you prepared for who the Bolts might target this upcoming April, here’s a look at my top-10 positional rankings.

2022 Draft: Michigan’s David Ojabo should be at top of list if Cowboys go shopping for edge-rush help

The talented Michigan Wolverines pass rusher goes under the microscope in a film evaluation. How would he fit with the Cowboys defensive line? | From @DiabeticTyler

The Dallas Cowboys will have many important decisions to make this offseason, one of which how they will address the defensive end position. The primary concern is the free agency of defensive end Randy Gregory, who had six sacks in 12 games but backup Dorance Armstrong, Jr. chipped in with five sacks in 13 contests himself. Gregory was drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft, but has been suspended for 21 games in that time frame in addition to being made inactive in six more of them.

Gregory has had his struggles off the field related to marijuana, but with the NFL relaxing their rules, it appears he has finally put them behind him and is able to simply focus on football. Armstrong, a former fourth-round pick, finally was able to put it all together under the tutelage of Dan Quinn and DL coach Aden Durde. Did the season both had possibly price either or both of them out of Dallas’ range?

If that’s the case, the good news is that edge rusher is one of the deepest positions in the 2022 NFL draft class. Michigan’s David Ojabo could still be available when the Cowboys are on the clock at the end of the first round, so a film study is a necessary piece of the offseason to-do list.

2022 NFL mock draft roundup: Eagles pair Sauce Gardner with Darius Slay

Even as the #Eagles start preparation for #SuperWildCard Weekend, eyes are leaning towards the draft and 3 FIRST ROUND picks. In this postseason mock draft roundup, #SauceGardner and #Slay could be the recipe for 2022

The Eagles were one of 14 teams able to move on to postseason play, but the rest of the league will begin offseason preparations, looking towards the NFL draft to reload and contend in 2022.

Mock draft season is set to engulf the league and after Georgia defeated Alabama in the National Championship game, college football’s top stars will start heading to Mobile, Alabama for the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl,

Here’s your initial postseason mock draft roundup for wild card weekend.

Browns mock draft watch: CBS Sports picks WR

Browns mock draft watch: CBS Sports picks WR #Browns, a Buckeye once again. @joshKeatley16 breaks down the mock:

It maybe bad new for most, but the Cleveland Browns are officially in draft season and I am very excited for who may become the next future star in Cleveland. The Browns appear to have hit the last draft out of the park with Greg Newsome and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah making immediate impacts in a positive fashion and this draft will hopefully yield the same.

We mentioned that the Browns went hard on the defense drafting a cornerback in in the first round and an outside linebacker in the second, but the focus on the 2022 NFL Draft may be more towards the offensive side and our friends at CBS Sports has an Ohio State receiver etched to Cleveland.

Ravens get EDGE help in latest 2022 NFL mock draft by CBS Sports

The Ravens got some edge rusher help in the latest 2022 NFL mock draft by CBS Sports

The Baltimore Ravens will have a lot of roster construction to do once they enter the 2022 offseason. They have multiple players who will hit free agency, as well as a projected 10 draft picks in the 2022 draft at their disposal.

Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports put out his latest 2022 NFL mock draft, and for Baltimore he had them selecting some edge rusher help at the 16th overall pick in David Ojabo out of the University of Michigan. When explaining his choice, Wilson mentioned how he’d join 2020 first round pick Odafe Oweh to make an exciting tandem.

“Prior to the semifinal loss to Georgia, Ojabo was a lot of fun to watch this season, where he took advantage of every opportunity playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson. But don’t get it twisted — he’s a twitchy edge rusher who will only get better with experience. In Baltimore, he’ll join another athletic marvel, 2021 first-round edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who has had some jaw-dropping plays as a rookie.”

After playing just one game during his sophomore season at Michigan, Ojabo burst onto the scene in his junior year, racking up 11 sacks and five forced fumbles in 13 games. He stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs around 250 pounds, using his frame to beat offensive lineman consistently. While he’s still an overall raw prospect, his ceiling should be enticing to every NFL team, as he still has so much to learn.

The Michigan to Baltimore pipeline is real, especially with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh having a brotherly connection to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. If the two talk it over and John likes what he sees, Ojabo could be in Baltimore at the conclusion of the 2022 draft, especially because the team has some outside linebackers hitting free agency or getting up there in age in Justin Houston and Pernell McPhee.

David Ojabo makes NFL draft decision

As expected. #GoBlue

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Michigan football will now be in the unenviable position of replacing perhaps its best pass-rushing duo of all time.

While Aidan Hutchinson technically has another year of eligibility, it was a no-brainer that he would be departing after the 2021 season, given that he’s a first-round NFL draft lock, and has played for four years. However, going into the season, David Ojabo wasn’t even a lock to start — nor did he at the season’s outset.

However, 11 sacks later, Ojabo is projected to be a first-round pick himself, with ESPN’s Todd McShay having him at No. 10 overall on his draft board. A freak athlete who’s relatively new to football, Ojabo certainly has NFL teams salivating at his potential. And he announced on Tuesday that he will test those waters, as he announced he’s entering the 2022 NFL draft.

With Ojabo now out of the mix, the Wolverines will likely rely on Taylor Upshaw, Mike Morris, and some up-and-coming players such as Kechaun Bennett, Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, and TJ Guy, while incoming freshman Derrick Moore could serve to play immediately.

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4 potential Chargers prospects to watch in Orange Bowl

Laying out four players the Los Angeles Chargers could have their eye on as Michigan takes on Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

When the Georgia Bulldogs and Michigan Wolverines meet up in Friday night’s Orange Bowl, several prospects will be showcasing their talents on a supersized stage, with a handful of NFL evaluators watching closely.

Let’s take a look at four who could be on the Chargers’ radar.

1) NT Jordan Davis, Georgia

With the Chargers going to be in search of talent along the defensive line, they should look no further than Davis. Hulking at 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, Davis is not your typical nose tackle and, instead, one of the best players in college football. A handful for opposing blockers, Davis is mightily powerful, has good initial quickness, short-area quickness, can occupy double teams and occasionally triple teams and pass rush. He won’t raise eyebrows with his stat sheet (24 total tackles, 3.5 for a loss, and two sacks), but his play helps limit explosive plays, both through the air and on the ground. And, he’s the primary reason Georgia has the No. 1 defense in the nation, allowing just 229.7 yards per game.

2) DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

Davis draws most of the national buzz, but the man who lines up next to him is also quite impactful. At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Wyatt plays with the first-step quickness, leverage, lateral agility, and play strength at the point of attack to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. In addition, he has the versatility to line up anywhere from the zero-to-five technique. According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Wyatt’s most impressive testing number is the 4.87 40 he clocked this last offseason. He also vertical jumped 31 inches and broad jumped 9-3. Wyatt has seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and 19 quarterback hits on the season.

3) EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia

Walker is one of the few overshadowed players on the Bulldogs’ phenomenal defense. But the tape shows a 6-foot-5 and 275-pounder who wreaks havoc with quickness and flexibility to get upfield and turn the corner and the length and strength to bench press blockers into the backfield. In addition, Walker is versatile and can play off the edge or on the interior, something that Brandon Staley utilizes with his guys upfront. Like Davis and Wyatt, Walker’s stat sheet will not appeal (5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks on the season), but there’s plenty to warrant that he can play at a high level in the NFL.

4) EDGE David Ojabo, Michigan

The Chargers could be in search of a guy to immediately play opposite Joey Bosa if Uchenna Nwosu walks, and Ojabo is a guy that is a match made in heaven in Staley’s system. Ojabo is long and flexible with explosiveness, lateral agility, and closing burst. He isn’t a power player, and it can show in the run game, but the talent is there for him to be a first-rounder, with the potential to develop into a premier pass rusher at the next level. In 13 games this season, Ojabo has 11 sacks and 12 tackles for loss.

Michigan defense breaks down Georgia’s quarterbacks

It’ll be interesting to see how the defense performs against the Georgia offense. #GoBlue

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DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Though much of the talk when it comes to matchups in the Capital One Orange Bowl has been centered on the Michigan offense against the Georgia defense, perhaps just as important is how the Wolverine defense fares against the Bulldog offense.

While UGA wants to run the ball, just as Michigan does, it’ll be crucial for Georgia, if it wants to have success, for whoever is under center to have a good game. Unfortunately for whoever that may be — whether it’s Stetson Bennett or J.T. Daniels — the Wolverines pass rush will have something to say about that.

It’s presumed that Bennett will retain his starting position and play at least the bulk of the game, as he presents options for the Bulldogs not just in passing, but also running if plays break down. Naturally, the Wolverines are already ready for his mobility.

“Yeah, I think the strengths of this Michigan defense match up really well,” linebacker Josh Ross said. “You’ve got a quarterback in Stetson Bennett who’s a consistent quarterback and extends plays, and as a defense we have to do a really good job stopping the run on 1st and 2nd down and having a great game plan on 3rd down and getting off the field.”

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“Yeah, Josh is right,” edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson added. “He’s a very mobile quarterback, so that’s definitely a point of emphasis, but first things first, we’ve got to stop that run game. That’s definitely the point of emphasis, and then get them to 3rd-and-long and let us rush the passer and get after it.”

But what if J.T. Daniels ends up getting a significant amount of play? How are the Wolverines preparing for both?

“I’d say they’re both good quarterbacks, and we just know that we just always have to make the tackle,” cornerback DJ Turner said. “They’re really good quarterbacks and make good reads.”

”Yeah, mobile, know how to sit in the pocket, too,” edge rusher David Ojabo added. “You’ve just got to account for them at all points.”

The Capital One Orange Bowl kicks off at 7:30 p.m. EST at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

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