I've never been more excited for the NFL Draft.

This has little to do with the players involved, nothing to do with my on-again off-again relationship with the Detroit Lions, and everything to do with the fact that 32 NFL GMs—by and large the aging dads who need their children to log in to Netflix—will be attempting to conduct the entire draft via a remote group-chat setup. By now, many of us have experienced the pitfalls faced by inexperienced Zoom/Hangouts/Skype users. The tension just to see if picks get in on time is going to be incredible.

"We've hired four computer folks and we're completely re-doing the back-end of our college and pro scouting systems" – Dave Gettleman discusses the Giants' advancements in analytics pic.twitter.com/uJKQ9fkpxA

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) December 31, 2019

Godspeed, computer folks.

There are other compelling reasons to tune in besides gawking at technological train derailments. Michigan looks poised to have as many as nine players selected over the next three days, including two who could go in tonight's first round.

The First-Round Candidates

can't teach this bend [Bryan Fuller]

Cesar Ruiz entered the draft a year early after a rock-solid college career at center. Like his play, his draft projections are very consistent. He's the #31 player on The Athletic's consensus top 300 big board and most mocks I've seen have him going in the last ten picks of the first round. ESPN's Mel Kiper expects him to go somewhere in the 20s and his final mock sends Ruiz to the Patriots at #23. As NFL.com's Lance Zuerlein says, his ability to play multiple spots on the interior line could help him get into a starting lineup early in his career:

Athletic and tenacious with the combination of skills and technique to fit into a variety of blocking schemes on the next level. Ruiz wins early with initial quickness and fast hands into first contact. He works to convert early advantages into wins. He's consistent in securing down-blocks and has the athletic traits to become a second-level factor. He'll give some ground to power rushers and needs help against wide-bodies, but the tape checks out. Ruiz has early starting potential and should develop into a good pro with guard/center flexibility.

Ruiz is Michigan's best bet to get his name called tonight. He's projected as the first interior lineman off the board. Since 2000, there's been only one draft (2017) in which the first round passed without an interior OL selected.

On the other hand, Josh Uche is one of the draft's bigger wild cards, which befits his time as a Wolverine. Unfortunately, a lot of Uche's draft uncertainty comes from perceived mis- and under-utilization in Don Brown's defense. Here's a scathing scout take via The Athletic's Bob McGinn:

“He was so underused there,” one scout said. “With his ability to bend the edge it’s ridiculous. He can affect the quarterback from a bunch of different angles. Michigan really did this kid a disservice. For as versatile as this kid is he should never leave the field. He can run. He can cover. I thought he was the best defensive player in Mobile besides (Javon) Kinlaw. He’s super conscientious. He would have run high 4.4s, low 4.5s and jumped close to 40. All that stuff people don’t know.”

The next scout quoted believes Uche is a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level; I agree. The third scout produces an all-time "did you watch the right guy" quote [emphasis very much mine]:

“Little guy,” said a third scout. “He’s not a very good athlete. Nothing against the run. No burst as a pass rusher.”

That's up there with "Devin Bush lacks sideline-to-sideline speed." I mean...

...what in tarnation?

Anyway, Uche is the #62 player on the consensus top 300, but he sneaks into the back end of a couple first-round mocks—The Athletic's Dan Brugler projects him at #27 to Seattle. He may go tonight if a team with the right system finds his potential too tantalizing to pass up; he may fall into the second round (as he does on The Ringer's mock) or even the third if the lack of film and positional uncertainty scares teams away in a year there isn't a lot to go on.

[Hit THE JUMP for seven more players with a solid chance to be picked plus more roster candidates.]

The Mid-Rounders

DPJ is another case of potential vs. production [Fuller]

In one of the most loaded receiver classes in recent memory, Donovan Peoples-Jones looks to be a third- or fourth-rounder given current projections; he's at #101 on the consensus board. His scouting profiles mostly read along these lines:

Donovan Peoples-Jones didn’t quite have the production at Michigan given his status as a five-star recruit and No. 1 wide receiver in his class coming out of high school. That said, his quarterback play has been dreadful and it limited his ability to be more productive. Peoples-Jones has many qualities that make him an appealing NFL prospect and likely a better pro than college player. His hands, ball skills, size and athletic ability all shine on tape.

The main questions for him are short-area quickness and his ability to beat press coverage. His potential to contribute as a punt returner helps him and most analysts project him as a big slot. He's one of the players who may have most benefited from a full pre-draft process. Instead, like with Uche, teams may hold off for a while because of the lack of production.

Ben Bredeson is expected to be the second draftee among Ed Warinner's hogmollies. He's at #115 on the consensus mock and should go around the fourth round. While athletic limitations limit his perceived upside, he's seen as a potential starter.

The Late-Rounders

Ed Warinner should get a convincing recruiting graphic out of this weekend. [Fuller]

There's a gap between the consensus projection for Bredeson (#115) and the next Wolverine, fellow guard Mike Onwenu, who's listed at #186 overall. Onwenu's draft stock is limited by his scheme fit; as a planetary lineman with average mobility, he's best suited to a power running attack and probably won't be on the board for a fair number of teams as a result, and there are some questions about whether he can sustain pass-blocks long enough to play in a vertical passing scheme. A team like the Derrick Henry-led Tennessee Titans could fall in love with him, though.

At #189, cornerback LaVert Hill falls only a few spots behind his former Cass Tech teammate on the consensus board. He's regarded similarly, albeit a little less highly, than Jourdan Lewis, whom Dallas picked in the third round in 2017. Hill has promising coverage skills but his size could be a limiting factor against NFL receivers. He's projected behind a lot of Big Ten cornerbacks with better physical profiles that he outperformed for the last 3-4 years.

Another player who'll be dependent on a team seeing a role for him is Khaleke Hudson (#200 consensus). More and more NFL teams are using hybrid safety/linebackers as full-time players, though there's concern Hudson doesn't play either role quite well enough to be an impact player. He can be a versatile backup, however, and his superior punt-blocking skills will be coveted by special teams coaches, which gives him an advantage when it's time to hold onto a roster spot.

NFL.com sees Josh Metellus (#229) as a quality backup who could become a starter down the road. He could benefit from being able to play more zone and less man coverage at the next level; scouts like his run support, physical play, and instincts.

Finally, Jon Runyan Jr. (#237) is projected to slide down to guard at the NFL level. He's listed only two spots behind Onwenu at the position by McGinn. He's seen as a smart player who can play in multiple schemes and his experience as a tackle will help him in the fight for a place on the roster—the more versatility you can provide as a backup, the better for a team trying to get the most out of its 53-man limit.

Possible UDFAs/Day Three Picks

McGinn lists Jordan Glasgow among his draftable linebackers, incidentally one spot behind MSU's Joe Bachie. Glasgow's special teams contributions should at least get him a look as an undrafted free agent. Never doubt a Glasgow.

Defensive end Mike Danna wasn't a featured player on last year's defense after coming over from Central Michigan but he did enough to catch the eye of at least one NFL team. That's all it takes to get into the last couple rounds of the draft.

NFL.com sees tight end Sean McKeon as a priority free agent whose blocking could gain him a roster or practice squad spot.

A Chance For Me to Look Bad

I'll admit I didn't put this together with plans to publish it; I joined a dynasty fantasy football league this year and the draft order is determined by who had the most accurate first-round mock. Here's my attempt without projecting any trades, which are inevitable:

1. CIN - Joe Burrow

2. WAS - Chase Young

3. DET - Jeff Okudah

4. NYG - Jedrick Wills

5. MIA - Justin Herbert

6. LAC - Tua Tagovialoa

7. CAR - Isaiah Simmons

8. ARI - Tristan Wirfs

9. JAC - Derrick Brown

10. CLE - Andrew Thomas

11. NYJ - Mekhi Becton

12. LV - Jerry Jeudy

13. SF - CJ Henderson

14. TB - CeeDee Lamb

15. DEN - Henry Ruggs

16. ATL - K’Lavon Chaisson

17. DAL - Xavier McKinney

18. MIA - Josh Jones

19. LV - Javon Kinlaw

20. JAC - Grant Delpit

21. PHI - Justin Jefferson

22. MIN - Denzel Mims

23. NE - AJ Epenesa

24. NO - Patrick Queen

25. MIN - Jeff Gladney

26. MIA - Yetur Gross-Matos

27. SEA - D’Andre Swift

28. BAL - Kenneth Murray

29. TEN - Ezra Cleveland

30. GB - Kristian Fulton

31. SF - Cesar Ruiz

32. KC - Antoine Winfield Jr.

Sorry about the Becton reminder.