There’s little mystery as to who will be the first Big Ten player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. That distinction belongs to Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who was the 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year.

Though Hutchinson is no longer expected to go No. 1 overall, he’s not likely to fall very far. You usually don’t end up with a high draft pick without edge rusher being a position of need.

The matter of which Big Ten player will be next off the board is quite intriguing, however. You can make an argument for several players depending on what a certain team needs, and you never know how trades or surprise selections might alter who becomes available in a certain spot.

These are the top 4 B1G candidates to hear Roger Goodell call their names after Hutchinson.

Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson

Why he’ll be next

DraftKings posts Wilson’s odds of being drafted in the Top 10 at -175, which makes him a considerable favorite over any other Big Ten player behind Hutchinson.

Part of Ohio State’s powerful triumvirate of receivers, Wilson caught 90 passes for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021. He’s also the fastest of the wideouts at the very top of this class, running the 40 in 4.38 seconds at the NFL Combine.

Wilson’s versatility will no doubt be an attractive selling point for NFL suitors. Primarily a slot receiver as a sophomore, he was moved to the outside by Ryan Day for his junior season. It seems clear that he’s capable of doing both at the next level.

Why he won’t be next

This is a pretty thin draft at a lot of positions, but receiver is not one of them. And depending on how teams assess that crop, Wilson could slip.

Two receivers who could jump him are former teammates. There’s fellow Buckeye Chris Olave, who is considered a more technically crisp route-runner. And then there’s former Buckeye Jameson Williams, who transferred to Alabama for his final season and became a breakout star.

USC’s Drake London is quite possibly the best of all the receiver prospects, with only a broken ankle from last season affecting his stock.

If teams are smart, Wilson doesn’t slip past Washington at pick 11. But teams who frequently draft that high have a habit of not being very wise.

Ohio State WR Chris Olave

Why he’ll be next

Wilson has more physical tools, but Olave is a more advanced player — as you’d expect from a guy with 1 more year of experience.

Teams might be sold on the fact that Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud had a tendency to favor Olave in the moments that mattered most.

When the Buckeyes faced 3rd-and-10 or longer — not a frequent occurrence — Olave had 6 receptions for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wilson had 3 catches for 32 yards without a score.

Olave also had more 4th-quarter production, catching 12 passes for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns. That more than doubled the output of Wilson, who had 7 catches for 85 yards and a score.

If Olave’s production in the clutch is the selling point, there’s a strong argument for picking him above Wilson. He’s also not that much slower than his teammate — Olave posted a 4.39-second 40.

Why he won’t be next

DraftKings has Olave at +1200 to go in the Top 10. That’s a pretty big gap from his teammate, and it wasn’t created in a vacuum.

If Olave is the 2nd Big Ten player selected, it’s going to be more contingent on Wilson slipping than Olave rising up the charts. I’d expect him to go somewhere between 11th-25th.

Purdue DE George Karlaftis

Why he’ll be next 

The same reason Hutchinson isn’t going to drop far — if you have a high draft pick, it usually means you don’t have a quarterback or you can’t rush the quarterback.

And with the top 2 picks in this draft expected to be defensive ends, Karlaftis’ stock is going to rise. This is even more true when comparing his motor to fellow edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is probably the most naturally talented edge rusher in this class but is surrounded by rumblings about his desire to actually play football.

I could see Karlaftis being taken as early as 10th. The Jets have that pick in addition to No. 4. This puts New York in prime position to trade down for more assets.

Karlaftis — the Other Greek Freak — is an ideal fit for a playoff-caliber team with a strong culture. And if a team in the teens or 20s moves up to get him, that’s where he would be going.

Why he won’t be next

Every team in the top 10 has some severe offensive needs. And there’s certainly no guarantee the Jets trade down, because few teams traditionally have more needs than the Jets.

There’s a reason Wilson is the betting favorite here.

Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum

Why he’ll be next

The praise is pretty much universal. You ask any draft expert, and they’ll tell you that Linderbaum is the best center prospect in the 21st century. And it feels like anybody who is the best prospect at his position in at least 20 years is a pretty safe first-round bet.

Why he won’t be next

Even though they have the most prominent butts in football, centers aren’t sexy from a draft perspective.

No center has been drafted higher than 17th overall since Damien Woody in 1999. And Woody ended up playing more guard by the time his Pro Bowl career was over.

It’s pretty strange when you think about it. If you ran betting odds for the member of the Class of 2022 most likely to end up in the Hall of Fame, Linderbaum would be the opening favorite. But he’s highly unlikely to be even the 2nd Big Ten player drafted.