Best NFL Drafts for U-M in common draft era

Submitted by Human Torpedo on

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michigan_Wolverines_in_the_NFL_dr…

Yes, I'm aware Wikipedia can be frequently wrong, but I actually edited this one page myself partially a while ago, so I figure it's quite accurate. With NFL draft coming up Thursday, let's reflect on some of the notable boons for us during this annual event:

1974: This one I believe was our biggest draft class by the numbers at 10 selected. Highest selected (only first rounder in that class) was Dave Gallagher at #20 overall

1978: Two first rounders out of five picks were quite an accomplishment in this era with less teams each round to pick and the extra rounds for them to pick players

1983: None of the seven in this class got picked in the first round, but this class was quite productive once they got in the NFL with three of them being eventual Pro Bowlers (including the human torpedo Anthony Carter)

1991-93: Also during the golden era of Michigan Athletics in the late 80's and early 90's, these classes were the last before the 7 round limit came into effect in 1994. They combined for total of 19 draft picks including first round legends Desmond Howard and Steve Everitt as well as others like Tripp Welborne, Erick Anderson and Elvis Grbac

1995: Bang for our buck in this one, with three of our five eventual picks being first rounders in Ty Law, Tyrone Wheatley and Trezelle Jenkins, setting the program record that has been tied once and broken never

2001: The only other draft class to achieve three first rounders in David Terell, Jeff Backus, Steve Hutchinson

2007-08: These two huge classes were basically an exodus that should've sounded the alarm of our impending decline as a program. All four of Leon Hall, Alan Branch, Lamarr Woodley, David Harris all got selected in the first 47 picks of the draft in 2007. Jake Long joined Tom Harmon as the only two Wolverines first off the board in 2008

 

twohooks

April 25th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^

Flint's Autoworld lasted ten years and it was built because executives had deemed it to be a great idea. NFL Execs do the same thing. Our Team. Their Team. No different. The NFL Draft can be a parody of itself in some cases. Nobody dreams of a car that sometimes doesn't always start and not a lot of people went to AutoWorld.