The Michigan Wolverines team that went 15-0 and won a national title will be represented heavily at the 2024 NFL Draft as it looks to match or break a record set by Georgia in 2022. The Bulldogs had 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, and U-M has a chance to set a new mark after 18 NFL Combine invites and a bevy of players in the draft cycle.
Unfortunately, this simulation sees them falling just short of the mark, walking out of the event with 14 selections.
The draft is this weekend, set for April 25-27 in Detroit. The first round takes place Thursday, second and third rounds and Friday and fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday. Here is a look at where the Michigan prospects went in our latest simulation using Pro Football Focus’ updated mock draft machine.
QB J.J. McCarthy – First round, No. 3 overall (New England Patriots)
When McCarthy declared for the draft in January, people laughed it off and saw him as a fringe first-round prospect, saying he should come back and work himself into being a potential top-10 pick next year. Well, the future is now, and all his stock has done is rise since entering the process. This pick gives New England its franchise quarterback moving forward. It worked out pretty well for them the last time they handed the keys to a Michigan man.
DB Mike Sainristil – Second round, No. 42 overall (Houston Texans)
Sainristil is the best nickel in the draft, and some teams still think he can perform for them on the outside. But his film from this year is outstanding, and he feels like an immediate impact guy even on one of the best defenses in football.
WR Roman Wilson – Second round, No. 61 overall (Detroit Lions)
The moment the draft process started, Wilson flashed his skill set at the Senior Bowl and has done nothing to suggest he should not be a second-round prospect in this draft class. Here, he gets to stay close to his alma mater and join a Detroit Lions team looking to push for a Super Bowl (yes, you read that right). He would round out a wide receiver room that includes All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, former first-rounder Jameson Williams and Michigan alum Donovan Peoples-Jones.
DT Kris Jenkins – Second round, No. 62 overall (Baltimore Ravens)
While the stats are not eye-popping, many NFL evaluators love his versatility and athleticism, in addition to how he sets the table for others. He fared well in athletic testing, running a 4.91 40-yard dash and putting up 29 reps in the bench press at the NFL Combine last month.
RB Blake Corum – Second round, No. 63 overall (San Francisco 49ers)
Corum seems locked in as a day two selection, and gets to go to the NFC Champions here as the running mate to Christian McCaffery. There were no workload concerns this year, and Michigan did a great job keeping him fresh coming off offseason knee surgery. Throw in the fact that he has dropped some weight and has worked out of the slot for teams this offseason and we might be looking at a guy who can a little closer resemble who he was as a freshman at Michigan.
LB Junior Colson – Third round, No. 74 overall (Atlanta Falcons)
Colson is a well-rounded, high-floor defender who passed on a senior season in Ann Arbor to take his talents to the NFL. He has a shot to sneak into the second round of the draft and be a steady starter at linebacker for years to come, and he was recently named a sleeper to go even earlier than that.
G Trevor Keegan – Fourth round, No. 125 overall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Keegan feels like a player who has terrific mid-round value after a good showing at the NFL Combine. At the very least, he feels like a great locker room addition and depth piece that has some experience playing tackle in college. However, he might have a chance to be a starter at the next level in the right situation. It is a little surprising to see him go above Zinter in the simulation, but we will see how things play out this weekend.
WR Cornelius Johnson – Fifth round, No. 142 overall (Carolina Panthers)
Johnson was a pleasant surprise at the NFL Combine after running a 4.44 40-yard dash and performing well in other areas. The pre-draft process has been kind to him after a good week at the Shrine Bowl, and he might have some appeal to teams as a mid-round pass catcher. Carolina desperately needs weapons for Bryce Young.
G Zak Zinter – Fifth round, No. 162 overall (Arizona Cardinals)
Zinter’s broken leg probably will not kill his draft stock as much as this simulation suggested it might, but recovery will certainly impact the process a bit. Before his injury, Zinter was considered a potential first/second-round prospect. He should be football-ready shortly after the draft.
EDGE Braiden McGregor – Sixth round, No. 183 overall (New York Giants)
There may still be some potential to unlock here, which could make him a worthy day-three look for NFL teams looking to add depth and competition to the pass rush. He has been dealing with an ankle injury during the pre-draft process.
C Drake Nugent – Sixth round, No. 189 overall (Houston Texans)
While not quite as dominant as Olu Oluwatimi was, Nugent came into Michigan ready to roll and fortified the interior of the offensive line. He should have a chance to be drafted in the same range as his predecessor. The NFL might see him as undersized, but he makes up for it with his play and intangibles and is a workout warrior.
EDGE Jaylen Harrell – Sixth round, No. 194 overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
Harrell has a full toolkit and does a lot of things well and is one of the better athletes at the position in the class. He does not have one single trait to hang his hat on, but he still could have some versatility and could play linebacker at the next level.
LB Michael Barrett – Sixth round, No. 202 overall (Green Bay Packers)
After six years, Barrett has finally exhausted his eligibility and feels like a lock to be a stalwart on someone’s special teams unit in the NFL. In an increasingly positionless NFL, he could certainly find a role as a subpackage defender and special teams ace.
TE AJ Barner – Seventh round, No. 223 overall (Las Vegas Raiders)
Barner might be one of the most underrated players on the Michigan roster and a reliable piece to the offense. Mid-round consideration might warranted for a guy who came in and showed off a well-rounded skill set in a tight end-heavy offensive system. It was surprising to see him fall this far.
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