An Unfortunate Injury Could Benefit the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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Over the past couple weeks following the NFL Combine, draft prospects have continued showcasing their skills at their schools’ pro days. Especially for players that may have underperformed at the actual scouting combine, this is an important stretch in a final attempt to improve their draft stock. Unfortunately, one consensus first-round pick may be tumbling down the board after a devastating injury this weekend.
Michigan pass-rusher David Ojabo has been one of the top EDGE prospects in this entire class after a fabulous 2021 season. This weekend during his pro day, Ojabo suffered a horrible setback after tearing his Achilles tendon during an on-field drill.
The 2021 season with Ojabo opposite Aidan Hutchinson gave Michigan one of the most fearsome duos along the defensive front in all of NCAA football. On top of Hutchinson’s ridiculous 14 sacks, Ojabo tacked on 11 of his own over the course of 13 games. This production on top of a terrific performance at the combine surged the first-year starter into the top-15 of many draft boards.
After this injury though, Ojabo’s stock is certain to take a hit. The current timeline is estimated to be at six months, but regardless, Achilles injuries are scary for players that rely on athleticism like he does. It’s been well-documented that Ojabo is an extremely raw prospect and has almost zero technique in his repertoire of moves. He gets all his “wins” by using elite speed and change of direction rather than finding ways to create leverage with his hands. That lack of balance between technique and athleticism already brought some concern regarding how successful he could be in the NFL. After an injury, the spotlight only shines brighter on his weaknesses.
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Just how far will Ojabo tumble, though? Assuming his timeline truly is around six months, he could return as soon as early October. That said, he probably won’t be back up to full speed until at least November. Regardless, Ojabo will miss at least 4-8 games of the 2022 season. This will matter to NFL teams, especially those looking to contend this year.
In a similar situation, Alabama’s star wide receiver Jameson Williams was considered a top-20 prospect before suffering a torn ACL in January’s national championship game. He is on the path to full recovery ahead of the NFL Draft; much faster than expected. Because of this, he has risen back to first-round status. However, Ojabo’s injury is 2+ months closer to the start of the NFL season, and an Achilles injury is still much scarier than an ACL in today’s NFL.
Due to this, it is imminent that Ojabo will fall out of the first round. He could even go into the third round when April rolls around. If this is the case, the Minnesota Vikings could be the team that jumps at the chance to draft him. A Michigan pass-rusher to the Vikings wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory either. Many people connected the Vikings to Kwity Paye during the 2021 draft cycle before the Colts selected him.
Ojabo could provide some needed depth to the Vikings pass-rush group, and now it won’t cost a premium price either. It also takes much more pressure off of the prospect to perform immediately, especially if he were to join a unit that already has Danielle Hunter. In the end, a very unfortunate situation could end up being a positive for everyone involved.
