Make Your Predictions for Wolverines on Draft Day(s) 2012
Draft Day! Woo-hoo! Time to make your predictions for where our beloved recently departed Wolverine heroes will be selected (round and team). Very unlikely any of our guys get selected in the first round tonight, but I figured might as well get the thread up now.
Here are my best guesses:
Mike Martin
I will be shocked if Hulk Smash lasts beyond the 3rd round -- there must be at least a handful of teams who've fallen in love with his motor and measurables (and a Greg Mattison thumbs-up) and who will be willing to spend a third-rounder on him. A lot of mocks have him going to the Bears at #79, which sounds plausible. I could also see Cincinnati taking him at 83 -- he'd be a good fit in Mike Zimmer's 4-3. Saints at #89 is also a possibility. Denver at 87 or 108 (mid-4th round) could also use a 4-3 DT.
David Molk
Someone's going to get a steal with Molk, because he'll drop due to his size -- he'll only fit a zone-based running scheme, and he's not big enough to backup at guard in a pinch.
Tennessee runs a zone-blocking scheme and needs a center -- Molk's a good fit for them at #155 in the 5th round. Green Bay is also a great fit at #163 -- they signed Jeff Saturday to replace Scott Wells, but Saturday's 36 and he could groom Molk as his eventual replacement. The Colts could also pick him up at the end of the round (#170) to replace Saturday.
Junior Hemingway
His combine performance probably boosted him from a fringe late-round pick or UDFA into a mid-rounder. Still, this is a deep draft at WR, so I think Junior goes in the 5th at best, more likely the 6th -- New Orleans at #179 or Carolina at #180.
Ryan Van Bergen
RVB's probably a borderline 7th round/UDFA-type, but I can see a 3-4 team looking for depth at the 5-tech DE spot taking a flyer on him late in the 7th round -- perhaps Pittsburgh, which has a ton of picks at the end of that round. San Diego's also a possibility there at #250, or Arizona at #221.
Kevin Koger
I would've had Kevin Koger as a late (6-7th round) pick before the Achilles surgery. 
Undrafted free agents who will at least get a shot at a camp:
Martavious Odoms
Troy Woolfolk
All right, have at it everyone.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:03 PM ^
Saturday will be a busy day for most of these guys. Commencement is at 10am, and then they'll have to hurry home to watch the draft at noon.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
I don't think RVB will get drafted, most likely free agency along with woolfolk and Odoms. Martin probably 4th, Molk probably 4th. Hemingway 6th.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^
I think he'll be drafted very late, but (to echo something Todd McShay said) I think he'll have a much better career than your average sixth or seventh round pick.
I don't think Martin will make it past the 2nd round. Someone is going to realize that his already-professional mindset makes him worth a 2nd round pick.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:10 PM ^
If Mouton is a 2nd rounder, Martin definitely should be!
One of those guys who might've been a monster with a better D-coordinator like Mattison. Ah well. Looked pretty good in preseason last year before hurting his shoulder and missing the entire season. Should be interesting to see how he does in San Diego this year.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
MIke Martin: 3rd round, final pick (#95) to Oakland
David Molk: 5th round, #158 to LIONS
Junior Hemingway, 6th round, #188 to Denver
Ryan Van Bergen, 7th round, #211 to Cleveland
Koger & Woolfolk UDA's
April 26th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
It would be awesome to see the Lions pick up Molk. I'm definitely biased, but since Raiola is 33 and doesn't have much time left ahead of him, I think he would be a nice replacement.
I have actually read a couple mock drafts that have the Lions taking Molk. It would really surprise me if the Lions don't take an interior lineman of some sort, so I could definitely see this happening.
Dom Raiola laughs at the notion that undersized centers can't carve out a long, productive career in the NFL.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I think the OP has it nailed. When Hemminway's combine numbers were released certain members of the board got all giddy and said he'd be a 2nd or 3rd round pick but there is just no way that's going to happen. Unfortunately I 100% agree with the OP - 6th round or lower.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
April 26th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
My bad. Thanc yu
April 26th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
April 26th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
I agree with the OP as well about the round Hemingway gets chosen in, but I hope he doesn't go to the Saints. Not because of their current drama or because I don't like the Saints, but because I would hate to see two great Michigan products, Hemingway and Arrington, on the same squad and not seeing the playing field as much as I would like to see them.
April 26th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
Molk to the Colts in rd 3 or 4
Hemingway to the Colts in rd 7
RVB 7th round Lions
Koger undrafted because of the Achilles
Odoms undrafted signs with Saints or Patriots
Woolfolk undrafted ends up on a practice squad
April 26th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
Here are my predictions:
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2012/04/2012-nfl-draft-preview-michi…
Magnus,
I'll take it as a good sign that my predictions match up so well with yours, since you know way more about this stuff than I do. But I have one question about your write-up on Mike Martin: Do you really think he's capable of being a 5-tech DE in an NFL 3-4 defense? It seems like the prototype for that position is guys with length -- 6'4" or better -- who have height and long arms to avoid getting engulfed by the NFL's massive offensive tackles. Isn't Martin a much better bet as a 3-tech in a 4-3?
He's not the prototype DE in a 3-4, but he's not a prototype anything with his height. I think he's the type of guy who could play DE in a 3-4 but slid inside in 4-front looks, sort of a combo DE/DT. Keep in mind that he's not going to beat anyone with his reach, so he has to rely on staying low and getting off the ball quickly.
Mike Martin (3) - 79 to Chicago
David Molk (6) - 190 to Tennessee
Junior Hemingway (6) - 202 to New York Jets
Ryan Van Bergen (7) - 253 to Indianapolis (Mr. Irrelevant becomes Most Relevant)
Kevin Koger - UDFA to Cleveland or Cincinnati or unsigned, subject to Achilles rehab
Troy Woolfolk UDFA to Houston
Steve Watson UDFA to Denver or New York Giants
Martavious Odoms UDFA to New England
Darryl Stonum UDFA to Arizona
Michael Shaw UDFA to Pittsburgh or New York Giants
Will Heininger UDFA to Detroit
Mark Huyge UDFA to New York Jets
Tom Pomarico UDFA to Law School and Detroit's Emergency Long Snapper
Kelvin Grady UDFA to Graduate Business School and U-M Graduate Assistant for Basketball
Boubacar Cissoko . . . The Oakland Raiders are on the clock.
Pretty sure Heininger isn't shooting for a chance at the NFL seeing as he didn't participate in Michigan's pro day.
Heininger and J.B. Fitzgerald have both chosen not to further their football careers.
He's looking to transfer as a grad student so he can play right away and use his final year of eligibility. He recently said Eastern Michigan is one of his finalists.
Pretty much everyone is saying Hemingway will go in the 6th-7th round; I think he will go before that.
The two concerns with Hemingway are his speed and his production. His (lack of) production is understandable given the offenses and QBs he played with, and his speed was average at the Combine, where he also showed elite quickness and acceleration. I think he'll go in the 3rd-5th round due to his size, quickness, and ball skills and possibly have a career like Jason Avant.
But this year's WR crop is so deep, I have a hard time seeing him go any earlier than the 5th. Avant was drafted in the 4th, but he was a probably a more polished route runner coming out of school than Junior, and already had a reputation for Velcro hands.
Martin: 3rd round by a 3-4 team
Molk: Lions in the 4th round
Albion College CB Chris Greenwood: Lions, 5th round
Hemingway: Panthers in the 6th round
RVB: Tampa Bay in the 7th round.
I hope all other guys catch on somewhere as free agents.
Molk:6th bears
Hemingway:5th jets
RVB: 7th steelers
Odoms:udfa lions
Martin #1 overall
Molk #2 overall
Hemingway #3 overall
RVB #4 overall
Koger #5 overall
Thats just like.. you know... my un-biased opinion... man.
Damn you, I was going to make that joke...+1
For whatever do you mean my fine fellow?
:)