The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 143 2. LB Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers Some had wondered if Gary was going to pan out after being selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. His third season emphatically answered that question. Gary took advantage of an injury situation ahead of him on the depth chart to put together his best season yet as a pro. He started all 16 games he played with the Packers, totaling a career-high 9.5 sacks. He also led the team with 28 QB hits (No. 7 in the NFL) in 2021 and finished fifth among NFL LBs with 53 QB pressures according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Green Bay picked up his fifth-year rookie option this offseason and seems to think one of its future stalwarts on defense has arrived. "I'm just here trying to get better," Gary said during Packers' OTAs. "We're getting closer to the season so I'm here working with my outside linebacker coach and trying to bring the team together as we can. Got a lot of young pieces here. I want to make sure that they know the importance of building a championship team. We don't have time to correct things. We've got to hit it full speed. So, I'm happy to be here so I can push the young guys, but I'm just here to get better for myself and better for this team." 3. DT Chris Wormley, Pittsburgh Steelers Primarily a role player during his first four seasons in the league with Baltimore and Pittsburgh, Wormley busted out in a big way during the 2021 season. He helped stabilize the Steelers' front after signing an extension prior to the year, finishing with 51 total tackles, 7 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 3 passes defended in 15 games (14 starts) in 2021. Wormley might project to a lesser role this season thanks to the return of Tyson Alualu and Isiahh Loudermilk's development, but he still can make an impact. "Wormley is a really valuable lineman on plays where he can attack linemen one-on-one with his athleticism and quickness," Behind The Steel Curtain wrote. "When he's defending against double teams or on plays where power and technique are more important, he's not going to do as well." 4. CB Jourdan Lewis, Dallas Cowboys Lewis has started 39 of 77 games with the Cowboys in his career, but the argument can be made that he had his best season in 2021. The former U-M corner made 13 starts in 16 contests with a career-high 3 interceptions, a forced fumble, 2 fumbles recovered, 1.5 sacks and 61 total tackles. Lewis is expected to continue competing for cornerback time next to Trevon Diggs, who has emerged as the team's unquestioned No. 1. Lewis is in the second year of a three-year, $13.5 million contract, though the Cowboys could get out of it during the 2023 offseason. He enters the 2022 season looking to earn his place on "America's Team." 5. WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans One of the most unfortunate developments of Collins' football career has been the absence of star quarterback play. He might even settle for simply consistent play at this point. However, the third-round pick of the Texans still was moderately productive in his first season in the NFL. He ended the season with 33 receptions for 445 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.5 yards per catch, which was good for 32nd among wideouts per ESPN. Collins was targeted 60 times as a rookie and scored the lone touchdown of his career in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 26. He is expected to be one of the Texans' top three wideouts this season next to Brandin Cooks and Chris Conley. reserve, ending his 2021 campaign with the New York Giants … Signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots on April 4. Cesar Ruiz OG 2 New Orleans Saints Former 24th overall pick started all 17 games last season with the Saints and has played in 32 games with 26 starts through two seasons in the NFL. Jon Runyan OG 2 Green Bay Packers Was a revelation for the Packers in 2021, starting 16 of 17 games at guard after being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Brandon Rusnak CB 3 Jacksonville Jaguars The former undrafted free agent has appeared in 28 games with one career start with the Jaguars … Played in four games last season and recorded 1 tackle. Michael Schofield OG 8 Free Agent Signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 17, 2021, and started 12 of 15 games played … Has not found a home yet this offseason. Andrew Stueber OT R New England Patriots Former U-M right tackle selected in seventh round by the Patriots during the 2022 NFL Draft after a Joe Moore Award-winning season as part of the best college of- fensive line in the country. Ambry Thomas CB 1 San Francisco 49ers Third-round selection in 2021 played in 12 games with five starts for the NFC runners-up in 2021 … Had 23 total tackles (1 for loss), 5 passes defended and 1 interception during his rookie season. Josh Uche LB 2 New England Patriots Suited up for 12 games in a reserve role for the Patriots with 12 total tackles, 3 sacks, 4 quarterback hits and a fumble recovery in 2021. Jarrod Wilson S 6 Free Agent Released by the Jaguars (after five seasons) during 2021 final roster cuts and signed to the New York Jets' practice squad … Bounced between the active roster and practice squad before being released … Signed with San Francisco and played in four games … Has made 204 tackles and 3 interceptions in six NFL seasons. Chase Winovich DE 3 Cleveland Browns Played in 13 games with 11 total tackles and 1 quarterback hit last season. Traded to the Cleveland Browns on March 16 in exchange for linebacker Mack Wilson. Chris Wormley DL 5 Pittsburgh Steelers Now in second year of a two-year contract extension signed with the Steelers during 2021 offseason … Started 14 of 15 games for Pittsburgh last season with 51 total tackles, 7 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Defensive tackle Chris Wormley had a breakout season in his fifth year in the NFL in 2021. He started 14 of the 15 games in which he played, finishing with 51 tackles, 7 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 3 passes defended. PHOTO BY CAITLYN EPES/COURTESY PITTSBURGH STEELERS Undrafted Free Agent Rookies: CB Vincent Gray, New Orleans Saints; S Brad Hawkins, Atlanta Falcons; DT Christopher Hinton, New York Giants; DT Donovan Jeter, Pittsburgh Steelers; LB Josh Ross, Baltimore Ravens