David Ojabo declared himself eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft a year early for good reason: His stock has never been higher. The University of Michigan edge rusher is raw, but after setting a school record with five forced fumbles and reaching double-digit sacks, he was a solid lock to be taken in the first round. At that point, it was worth making the leap.
Unfortunately for Ojabo, he went down with an Achilles injury during his pro day at Michigan earlier this week, which means he’s going to be out for the next several months as he attempts to recover and rehabilitate as he makes the jump to the pro level. In the interim, every NFL team is going to adjust their draft boards accordingly, and the shift in his draft stock could play right into the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The injury is a tragic one for Ojabo, to be sure, but sometimes it doesn’t affect a player’s stock as much as he might expect. The Tennessee Titans chose an elite cornerback Caleb Farley in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft knowing he wouldn’t play for that season. The Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive lineman Landon Dickerson early in the second round last year knowing he was working on a second torn ACL.
David Ojabo’s unfortunate Achilles injury could play right into the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans for the 2022 NFL Draft.
If that’s the case, the Chiefs might be out of the running for Ojabo with the injury. As the team selecting No. 30 overall in the first round, Ojabo has been projected long out of reach for the Chiefs per most draftniks. That’s because the value of pass rushers and Ojabo’s potential ceiling often has him mocked in the top half of the first round—or at least gone by several picks before K.C. would be on the clock without a significant move up the order.
However, with the Achilles injury, things might shift just enough to give the Chiefs a chance. Before the injury, Pro Football Focus had Ojabo as No. 24 on their big board. NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah had him at No. 18, and he’s the same over at The Sporting News.. At Pro Football Network, he’s even higher at No. 5 overall.
With the injury, some teams might believe that the raw nature of Ojabo’s game (having only 20 college games of experience total) to go with the injury might be too much—at least in the first round. For a team like the Chiefs, however, it might be a perfect spot to land. The need is there for someone to contribute immediately but the most important aspect is the long-term health of the position. The Chiefs have Frank Clark for another year and they’re likely to sign another veteran—maybe Melvin Ingram?—but there’s a dearth of developmental talent at the position.
The Chiefs aren’t going to be in a position for such a high-ceiling pass rusher—or at least one with such potential—sitting in the bottom of the first round every year. Those picks are always long gone, along with top-tier offensive tackles, which is why it’s going to take a bit of risk for the Chiefs to land someone like Ojabo in the draft.