Michigan EDGE David Ojabo

6-foot-4
250 pounds

Yahoo Sports' 2022 NFL draft grade

5.99 (6.19 before Achilles injury) — possible second-rounder; starter potential

TL;DR scouting report

Highly talented but raw pass rusher with sky-high potential that's been sullied by Achilles injury in March

The skinny

A 3-star Rivals recruit in the Class of 2019, Ojabo committed to the Wolverines over Notre Dame and several other schools (including Ivy League). After redshirting as a freshman, Ojabo saw six games of action (three on defense) in 2020, recording one tackle. But in 2021, he broke out in a big way, registering 35 tackles (12 for losses), 11 sacks, three passes defended, five forced fumbles and one recovery. Ojabo declared for the 2022 NFL draft and suffered a torn Achilles tendon at Michigan's pro day on March 18.

Upside

• Raw, tantalizing upside as a pass rusher — late bloomer with only five years of football experience

• Former soccer player with light feet and good reaction skills

• Good length (33 1/2-inch arms) with a frame that likely can add 15-20 pounds

• Electric athletic ability on full display at NFL combine — 4.55-second 40 (1.59 10-yard split), 35-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-2 broad)

• Get-off quickness is downright silly

• Loose hips and ankles allow him to bend the edge with ease

• Pretty natural feel for pass rushing — able to string moves together and counter blockers

• Surprisingly deep bag of tricks — throws the kitchen sink at tackles

• Emerging spin move could be trouble in a few years

• Slippery — rarely stays blocked for long

• Late finishing speed as run defender and vs. pass

• Had some strong reps vs. Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski, a possible 2023 first-rounder

• Lateral movement skill to flow down the line

• Highly active hands — looks to strip the ball every time (program record for FFs in a season)

• Projects to all fronts and can rush from two- and three-point stances

• Very devoted to his craft — hard worker behind the scenes

• Really came on late in the year — looked like a star in the making

Downside

• Highly inexperienced — fewer than 600 defensive snaps in college football

• Achilles injury likely to keep him out into regular season

• Was considered a developmental project prior to the injury

• Benefitted from playing across from Aidan Hutchinson — saw plenty of single blocking

• Sub-par run defender right now

• Learning how to take on blocks and dispatch them

• Gets knocked back by stiff punches

• Rush path can get altered by crafty blockers — can be directed too far outside the arc

• Loses sight of the ball at times

• Contain duties can be a bit spotty at times

• Average short-shuttle time (4.55 seconds)

• Still crude in pass-coverage technique and feel

• Not especially young for developmental player — turns 22 in May

Best-suited destination

Ojabo's injury will delay his development and likely make him something of a redshirt player as a rookie, although he still should be able to provide some pass-rush production while he rounds into a more complete player. In time, the team that drafts Ojabo could end up with an electric pass rusher, but he must learn to be a three-down contributor and might not truly break out until Year 3. Still, his upside is just too good not to invest in.

Did you know

Ojabo was born in Nigeria and grew up in Scotland, moving there when he was 7. His family settled in New Jersey when Ojabo was high school, first playing basketball before trying football. He was teammates at Blair Academy with Baltimore Ravens 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh, and the two often raced head-to-head in track. Ojabo once clocked a 100-meter time of 10.93 seconds — an absurd time for his mass.

Player comp

At his very peak, Ojabo could be a high-quality pass rusher a la Aldon Smith or Chandler Jones, but we see him as very similar to Osi Umenyiora

Expected draft range

Ojabo's injury certainly clouds his landing spot. A a possible top-15 pick prior to getting hurt, Ojabo could fall to Day 2 of the draft now.