2024 NFL draft preview (Michigan players)
Today Dane Brugler (the Athletic) released his mammoth draft guide, which he calls "the Beast" (it's 324 pages long). Here are the Michigan players that receive a ranking (I've included the ESPN ranking as a comparison, noting positional rankings if they differ):
- JJ McCarthy: #9 overall, QB #4 [ESPN #12 overall]
- Kris Jenkins: #36 overall, 2nd round, DT #3 [ESPN #46, DT #4]
- Roman Wilson: #41 overall, 2nd round, WR #8 [ESPN #72, WR #12]
- Junior Colson: #42 overall, 2nd round, LB #1 [ESPN #61, ILB #4]
- Mike Sainristil, #43 overall, 2nd round, CB #6 [ESPN #81, CB #11]
- Blake Corum: #77 overall, 3rd round, RB #2 [ESPN #67, RB #3]
- Zak Zinter: 4th round, OG #10 [ESPN #105, OG #3]
- AJ Barner: 5th round, TE #9 [ESPN #132]
- Cornelius Johnson: 5-6th round, WR #28 [ESPN #190, WR #25]
- Jaylen Harrell, 6th round, Edge #21 [ESPN #201, OLB #12]
- Trevor Keegan: 6th round, OG #18 [ESPN #242, OG #15]
- Ladarius Henderson, 6-7th round, OG #19 [ESPN #281, OT #28]
- Braiden McGregor, 6-7th round, Edge #23 [ESPN #282, DE #18]
- Michael Barrett Jr, 7th round, LB #20 [ESPN #207, ILB #16]
- Karsen Barnhart, 7th-PFA, OG #23 [ESPN #233, OG #13]
- Trente Jones, 7th-PFA, OG #24 [ESPN #292, OG #18]
- Drake Nugent, PFA, C #15 [ESPN #277, C #13]
- James Turner, PFA, K #8 [ESPN has no place kickers rated]
- Josh Wallace, PFA, CB #40 [ESPN #191, CB #26]
Brugler would therefore anticipate 14-16 Michigan players drafted; ESPN would project 14 (there are 257 picks in the 2024 NFL draft), but in contrast to Brugler includes Wallace & Barnhart and excludes McGregor, Henderson, and Trente Jones.
I think Blake Corum will be successful at whatever he does and wherever he goes. He's a Michigan Legend and Favorite Son. But!
Given how RBs are used in the NFL, and how short their careers are, I think I would rather see my favorite team take Zinter/Keegan/Henderson in the 3rd round over Corum.
April 11th, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
I guess I’m a product of my times, but seeing RB #2 at pick #77 is still wild to me.
April 12th, 2024 at 11:17 AM ^
I explained to my son today that OJ was an all-time great RB at a time when RBs were important.
April 11th, 2024 at 12:40 AM ^
The Chargers have two 7th rd picks. Jim will use one of them on Trente or Barnhart, mark my words. Both will be great pros.
It still seems like Jones should have stayed this year. Is it possible that he thought he couldn't win a spot over Hinton/Gentry/Persi? (That doesn't seem likely either..)
JJ = the franchise
he will go in the first 5 picks, after somebody trades up to get him.
mark my worms....
I really, really, really hope whoever drafts him has a competent offensive line.
JJ does not have the speed or athleticism to survive without one. Looking at you, Giants.
Are you being sarcastic about his speed and athleticism? I hope you are because if you arent then you haven't watched a game of Michigan football or know anything about it.
April 11th, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
I am not.
JJ has speed and athleticism, but you need to be elite to survive behind a sieve offensive line in the NFL. JJ reportedly ran a 4.48 40 at Michigan, whereas -- for example -- Lamar Jackson was clocked at 4.34 at Louisville. That's a large gap when you've got the biggest and fastest in the world chasing you down.
That said, it's almost impossible to succeed as a QB even with elite speed and athleticism if you don't have proper protection. Going to a team without a good line is a borderline death sentence for any QB out of the draft.
Of course ever QB would love to have a great line but your comment made it sound like JJ doesn't have elite athletism for the QB position. JJ the minute he steps into the NFL becomes a top 5-10 QB in athletic traits and I would even say IQ. He doesn't need an elite line to be good but he also probably needs a decent line to succeed. Also elite athletism is an overrated attribute for QBs. Tom Brady is one example but throw elite athletism for Brady and we are talking about the GOAT of GOATs.
But also 40 times arent always a great indicator of pocket success. It is how you move in the pocket with great feet movement and also having that sense of where pressure is coming from. You have to have that mental awareness of what is going on around you and process it faster then others.
April 12th, 2024 at 11:23 AM ^
Lamar Jackson is top 3 in terms of QB speed if not #1. Jared Goff runs a 4.82 *Does Google search*
The list below is from 5 years ago, but it came up on my Google search. JJ would be #2 or #3 (See Kyler Murray at bottom) on that list in terms of 40 time.
- Lamar Jackson: 4.34 at Louisville team testing*
- Marcus Mariota: 4.52u
- Russell Wilson: 4.53u
- Cam Newton: 4.56u
- Deshaun Waton: 4.66u
T-6. Andrew Luck: 4.67u
T-6. Mitchell Trubisky: 4.67u
8. Derek Carr: 4.69u
9.Aaron Rodgers: 4.71u
T-10. Ben Roethlisberger: 4.75u
T-10. Josh Allen: 4.75u
12. Carson Wentz: 4.77u
13. Dak Prescott: 4.79u
14. Patrick Mahomes: 4.80u
15. Matthew Stafford: 4.81u
T-16. Jared Goff: 4.82u
T-16. Andy Dalton: 4.82u
18. Drew Brees: 4.83u
T-19. Baker Mayfield: 4.84u
T-19. Joe Flacco: 4.84u
T-19. Kirk Cousins: 4.84u
22. Sam Darnold: 4.85u
23. Matt Ryan: 4.89u
T-24. Josh Rosen: 4.92u
T-24. Eli Manning 4.92u
T-26. Jimmy Garoppolo: 4.97u
T-26. Jameis Winston: 4.97u
28. Dwayne Haskins(?): 5.04u
29. Phillip Rivers: 5.08u
30. Nick Foles: 5.14u
31. Tom Brady: 5.28u
32. Kyler Murray: unknown... rumored to be 4.38u(would put him in second. This took me awhile and don’t feel like changing all the numbers, sorry cards fans)
Having a good O-line is important. If you can't protect the QB, any QB no matter how fast they are, they are going to get killed.
U are correct but also people think 40 times make a QB less sackable which isnt true. The way the manipulate the pocket, how dast they can read and get throws off and can they sense the rush coming and a few other things. Brady is one guy I keep coming back to I know he is the GOAT but probably the slowest 40 of any QB with his skill.
April 11th, 2024 at 10:06 PM ^
I think many are underestimating Josh Wallace. His PFF numbers were dam good. If he was 2 inches taller and ran a 4.4 40 he would be 3rd-4th Rd guy. He was thrown at quite a bit because they didn't throw WJ way and JW held up well, especially against the best WR crew in college in Washington and played dam well vs. Bama. IMO JW is not being talked about enough to be a definite late rd pick.
April 11th, 2024 at 10:12 PM ^
Brugler I think is way wrong about BM. BM I think is going to be a steal he has all the tools and the further away from his major injuries the better he is getting. Before he got injured in HS BM was close to top 50 or so player. Maybe I am just Michigan biased as a grad and born a Michigan fan but to me he is going to be a steal if he goes 5th rd or later.
As for Jones he should have stayed another year and so should have Barnhart but maybe KB is what he is to this point. Also Henderson should have stayed as his stocked dropped from being inconsistent this year If he stayed and improved he could have gotten back to that 3rd Rd status he was prior to coming to Michigan.
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