Superlatives for former Michigan football players in the NFL in the 2023 season
The NFL season is officially over and another wave of Michigan rookies will soon be injected into rosters across the league. For now, it is time to reflect on the 2023 season by handing out a couple of superlatives for former Wolverines playing at the pro level.
There were 45 ProBlue athletes spread out across the league in 2023. Some were stuck on practice squads, some got injured early, others carved out rotation roles and some have even gone so far as to become the face of their respective franchise.
First, some honorable mentions for those who did not win awards: Jabrill Peppers (breakout player), Kwity Paye (underrated).
Offensive player of the year - Nico Collins, Houston Texans
2023 stats: 15 games, 80 catches, 1297 yards, eight touchdowns.
Collins is the runaway pick for this award. The third-year receiver paired terrifically with rookie quarterback CJ Stroud to form one of the more formidable passing combos in the NFL.
Defensive player of the year- Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
2023 stats: 17 games, 51 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, one interception, 33 QB hits.
Hutchinson continues to be one of the faces of the Lions franchise. The second-year pass rusher led the league in QB hits while being essentially the only pass rush threat on the Lion’s defensive line. If Detroit can pair him with a big-ticket veteran via either trade or free agency (Chris Jones and Matthew Judon are two names to watch) then Hutchinson might be able to put his name in the top tier of pass rusher.
Breakout player- Josh Metellus, Minnesota Vikings
2023 stats: 17 games, 116 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles, one interception.
Not much was expected of Metellus when he was drafted in the sixth round in 2020. Even when he was given a two-year extension worth just $8,000,000 prior to the 2023 season, not many Vikings fans paid attention. But Metellus soon found himself in a starting role… and excelling. He will make just $4,000,000 as a starting safety next year, which is painfully low. Look for Metellus to command big money on the open market if he can replicate his 2023 performance.
Best rookie- D.J. Turner, Cincinnati Bengals
2023 stats: 17 games, 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, seven passes broken up.
Turner was selected in the second round and stepped in to start 12 games as a rookie. The expectation is that Turner will continue to develop and should be a consistent piece in the Bengals secondary for years to come.
Underrated- Mike Danna, Kansas City Chiefs
2023 stats: 16 games, 50 tackles, 6.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, three passes defended.
Danna has continued to play consistent football for the Chiefs. He gets almost no attention from the media, but Danna is one of the more balanced players on the Chiefs with his ability to play both the run and the pass.
Next up- David Ojabo, Baltimore Ravens
2023 stats: three games, six tackles, one sack.
Ojabo has had a tough start to his NFL career. He was projected to be a first-round pick early in the 2022 draft cycle before tearing his achilles and missing almost his entire rookie year. Ojabo was primed to come back in 2023 but once again suffered an ACL that held him out for most of the season. The talent is there, one can only hope that Ojabo is able to recover from his injuries and play consistently in the NFL.
