Predicting where each Michigan Wolverine gets selected in the NFL Draft

Predicting where each Michigan Wolverine gets selected in the NFL Draft

We’re a little more than a week away from the 2024 NFL Draft and the reigning champions of college football, the Michigan Wolverines, hope to have double-digit players selected in the draft’s seven rounds.

Overall, there are 22 players from last year’s team that entered the draft, and a record 18 of them were invited to the NFL Combine. It’s obvious next week is going to be a pretty busy one for the maize and blue.

There is still plenty of speculation about where each player will wind up being drafted, so we’re going to give our best shot at predicting where each guy winds up in the order they are drafted.

RD 1 – Pick 4 (Trade from AZ to the Minnesota Vikings): QB J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings are in a dire situation. After Kirk Cousins opted to take the money and run to Atlanta, the Vikings need to find a replacement better than Sam Darnold.

McCarthy at least gives them hope without swinging too hard for the fences. Packaging pick 11 and 23 is the start of a substantial package. McCarthy fits perfectly into Kevin O’Connell’s pro-style offense and would flourish with the weapons there.

RD 2 – Pick 37 (Los Angeles Chargers): DB Mike Sainristil

I couldn’t even make it two picks into this without sending a Wolverine to join Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter in Los Angeles, but I also don’t think there is a single better fit than Sainristil. Harbaugh knows exactly what he is getting in the 23-year-old defensive back, who was maybe his best player on the best defense in college football. He’ll know the system and be a guy who comes in to establish the culture Harbaugh wants. It’s a win-win for the Chargers.

RD 2 – Pick 51 (Pittsburgh Steelers): DL Kris Jenkins

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense may be great, but they actually were mediocre at best against the run in 2023. They finished 21st in the NFL, allowing 118.6 rushing yards per game last season on 4.4 yards per rush (22nd in the league). Jenkins fits the bill to help on the defensive interior while also contributing to the pass rush up the gut.

RD 2 – Pick 56 (Dallas Cowboys): RB Blake Corum

The Cowboys have a recent history of drafting players from Ann Arbor, picking Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker in the early rounds of last year’s draft. Jerry Jones loves his running backs and he loves superstars at the position. There isn’t a bigger one than Corum in this draft, and he fits the ideal mold of what Mike McCarthy likes from backs, too. This feels like a match.

RD 3 – Pick 72 (New York Jets): WR Roman Wilson

The Jets have plenty of needs if they hope to be AFC East champs and eventual Super Bowl champs as they give it another go with Aaron Rodgers. Even after adding Mike Williams, I think they go wide receiver early and take a guy who can open up the field over the top with the 4.39-speed Wilson possesses. If Williams gets hurt, this receiving group looks just as bleak as it did last season behind Garrett Wilson. The young wideout pair could be dangerous now with Rodgers and for whoever comes after him in New York.

RD 3 – Pick 81 (Seattle Seahawks): LB Junior Colson

The Seahawks need help on defense with the explosive running games in the AFC West. Bobby Wagner just left after his second stint in Seattle and former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald knows just how desperate they are at the position in a weaker class. He goes with Colson in the third round.

RD 3 – Pick 88 (Green Bay Packers): G Zak Zinter

A staple of the Packers for so long, the offensive line has taken some hits over the last couple of seasons in Green Bay. They need to be better up front to protect Jordan Love. Zinter slides a bit due to teams being concerned with the ACL tear but is an excellent fit in Matt LaFleur’s offense when healthy.

RD 4 – Pick 123 (Cleveland Browns): TE A.J. Barner

RD 5 – Pick 164 (Detroit Lions): Edge Braiden McGregor

RD 5 – Pick 165 (Baltimore Ravens) OL Trevor Keegan

RD 6 – Pick 203 (Denver Broncos) Edge Jaylen Harrell

RD 6 – Pick 208 (Oakland Raiders) OL LaDarius Henderson

RD 7 – Pick 234 (Indianapolis Colts) OL Drake Nugent

RD 7 – Pick 239 (New Orleans Saints) LB Michael Barrett

RD 7 – Pick 242 (Tennessee Titans) WR Cornelius Johnson

RD 7 – Pick 254 (Los Angeles Rams) CB Josh Wallace

UDFA – OL Karson Barnhart

UDFA – K James Turner

UDFA – CB Josh Wallace

UDFA – CB German Green

UDFA – DT Cam Goode