The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473191
142 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Top Five NFL Seasons In 2021 1. QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers The ageless wonder (who will be 45 in August) continues to mature like a fine wine despite flirting with retirement in the offseason. He led the NFL with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touch- downs last season and pushed the Bucs into another deep playoff run, eventually bowing out in the NFC divisional round to the Los Angeles Rams. It does not seem like he will rest until he adds another Super Bowl to his already-loaded résumé. "The season's already started. You're competing every day out there. You're either getting better or you're getting worse. You're not going out there to break a sweat, you're going out there to get things done," Brady said during the team's mandatory minicamp this summer. "I think this should be in my opinion our best opportunity to play our best football because we've been together the longest, and why shouldn't it be? We know each other, we know the scheme, we've been through a lot of challenging circumstances in games and now we've got to go out there and execute it as well as we possibly can." Jalen Mayfield OL 1 Atlanta Falcons Former U-M tackle kicked inside to guard after being selected in the third round in 2021, starting all 16 games for the Falcons. Cameron McGrone LB 1 New England Patriots Former fifth-round draft pick in 2021 did not play for the Patriots last season after being placed on the reserve list on Aug. 31, 2021. Sean McKeon TE 1 Dallas Cowboys Recorded his first career NFL reception on Nov. 14 against the Atlanta Falcons and his first touchdown on a 10-yard strike from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. Josh Metellus S 2 Minnesota Vikings Has developed into a special teams stalwart with the Vikings, playing 31 games in two seasons in the NFL … Has recorded 22 total tackles so far in his career. Bryan Mone DT 3 Seattle Seahawks The former undrafted free agent has played in 28 games with five starts during his Seahawks career … All five starting nods came in 2021, when he recorded 35 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hits. Quinn Nordin K 1 New England Patriots Made the Patriots' active roster in 2021 but was inactive in Week 1 and placed on injured reserve on Sept. 18 with an abdomen injury … Released in December and re-signed to the Patriots' practice squad … Signed a reserve/futures contract in January 2022 before being released again on June 10. David Ojabo LB R Baltimore Ravens First-round caliber prospect tore his ACL during U-M's pro day in March but was reunited with former Wolverines defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as the Ravens' second-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft … This is expected to be a redshirt season for the up-and-coming pass rusher. Patrick Omameh OG 9 Free Agent Signed with the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 10, 2021, after being released from the Las Vegas Raiders during roster cuts at end of the preseason … Released in January and is still looking for an opportunity. Mike Onwenu OL 1 New England Patriots After starting all 16 games during his rookie season in 2020, the former sixth- round pick made only eight starts in 16 contests during the 2021 campaign … Has alternated between both guard and tackle in the NFL. Kwity Paye DE 1 Indianapolis Colts The 21st overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft played in and started 15 games for the Colts last season with 32 total tackles (3 for loss), 10 quarterback hits, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass defended. Donovan Peoples-Jones WR 2 Cleveland Browns The sixth-round 2020 draft pick has played in 26 games with 11 starts during two seasons … Has 11 catches for 78 yards and 5 touchdowns in his career. Jabrill Peppers S 5 New England Patriots Suffered a high ankle sprain and torn ACL in Week 7 and was placed on injured After initially announcing his retirement this past offseason, Tom Brady (who will be 45 in August) reversed course to return to the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers in search of an unprecedented eighth Super Bowl championship in his career. PHOTO BY MATT MAY/COURTESY TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS