Will Michigan Break the Record for Most Draftees?
Georgia set the record a couple of years ago with 15 players drafted in the NFL Draft. Will Michigan break that mark in a few days? I'm seeing 13-17 Michigan players included in the latest seven-round mock drafts I've read.
(1) J.J. is considered a lock for the top-10 by pretty much everyone now. The consensus second-rounders are (2) Colson, (3) Jenkins, (4) Roman Wilson, and (5) Mikey. (6) Corum and (7) Zinter are in the fourth-ish range. There's general agreement that (8) Keegan, (9) Harrell, (10) McGregor, (11) Cornelius Johnson, (12) Barner, and (13) Nugent will get picked in the later rounds. The guys who seem to be more up-in-the-air are (14) Barrett, (15) Henderson, (16) Trente Jones, and (17) Josh Wallace. Not seeing Barnhart in any mocks.
It'd be a pretty remarkable statement about our players and coaches if a team so far removed from the top of the recruiting class and roster talent rankings were to break this record. Let's hope all these fellas get picked!
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:19 AM ^
We're gonna break the draft just like we broke the minds of Ohio State fans!
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
Not sure if I want to see the Draft irreparably broken, though.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:21 AM ^
As someone retiring from college football fanhood on top, this draft is my last ride. I'm going to be irate if Michigan doesn't set the record.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
I'm all for going out on top, but I can't find ANYWHERE in my fanhood contract a clause allowing for the possibility of retiring. I'd swear I remember some language like "until death do us part..." from the signing ceremony. Maybe I'm confused or mis-remembering?
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
You're quitting following UofM football for next season?
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
Quitting after winning sounds like a losers mentality, to me... I mean, I get that it can't get any better than last year, but it can get just as good. The run up to winning it all, the challenge to get there, is what makes the actual winning so attractive.
Either you are have a terminal diagnosis (in which case, I am so sorry), or you and I think very differently about fandom. I think it's the latter, because watching our players get drafted (while good), isn't even as impactful as a cherry on top of a sundae. It's more like the sifted powdered sugar on top of something that was already a really nice dessert, and I would never get irate about powdered sugar, or the lack thereof.
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but lived in Boston during the early 2000s. Getting to experience the heartbreak of losing in game 7 up 2 runs late to the Yankees and then coming back the next year after being down 3 games was truly an amazing time to be there.
As a Michigan fan, who truly became hardcore my freshman year after they won it all in 98, I really appreciate this year. My friends tried to bring it down, with all the fake drama that came up, but watching a Rose Bowl win with my kids and the National Championship with my kids, well past their bedtime, was so worth it. It is definitely hard to see your team lose so many close ones. It makes it all the more worth it when they win.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:26 AM ^
I think Barrett and Henderson will get drafted.
A guy that confuses me is Harrell. I think he was a fine player at Michigan, but I feel like 6'4", 250-ish pound guys are a dime a dozen in the NFL. I think you can sign a Jaylen Harrell at just about any time of the year without having to spend a draft pick on him. I guess my point is that if it's later in the draft, I would mostly want to look for potential upside rather than a guy who just is what he is, which is solid but nothing special.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:33 AM ^
The thing I think you’re missing with Harrell is he’ll still be only 21 on draft weekend. He’s already competent now, and he is presumably not finished developing physically given his age. Add in that his father was in the league, and he seems like a safe day 3 pick with some upside because of his age.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
I'm not saying he can't play in the league. Guys like him exist. I would just lean toward someone with a little more size, a little more speed, a little more playmaking ability, etc., who maybe has some other question marks (injury history, converted to the sport late, etc.) holding him back from being a higher pick.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
My point is the NFL definitely puts a premium on guys who are 22 compared to 23 or 24 in the draft, and they have a lot of data that supports this. The average age for this draft is over 23, one of the oldest in recent years, so Harrell will definitely be one of the youngest players left on the board by the time later rounds come. It’s pretty likely he gets picked because of his upside combined with decent college production and a lot of experience playing in a defense that is being picked up by more and more NFL teams.
I think he will get picked, too. I just don't really see major upside with him. But we'll see.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
Additionally, given how passing oriented the NFL is I would think most teams would prefer players whose skillsets lean more to pass rush than run stuffing if they only have one, but what do I know?
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
I think we're starting to see the trends going towards power running game because defense has gone 2 high shell to prevent explosive plays. The Rams, Lions, SF, LAC, Baltimore are all teams that wants to line up and mash at the LOS. Even the SB champion, KC has started to run the ball more, but it helps that they have Mahomes who is the best QB in the league.
Trends are cyclical from power running game to wide open passing game and now back to power running game. Defense has gotten smaller and faster so teams are going bigger in response to it. The OL are much more athletic than it used to be 20 years ago.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
This is why I see Barrett and Jones with a lot of upside over their probable draft slot. Barrett is a good run stuffer that it unblockable as a blitzer. And Trente could've used another year in AA as a starter, but he will be a good depth player on any OL, and can be a good impact for some team that needs help.
Whoever gets Barrett that late will be getting some great value. Other picks based on value would be: Zinter and perhaps Trente.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
I could see jimmy, johnny, or MacDonald-y using the Michigan connection as a tie-breaker in the 7th round to help break the record.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
Idk. While I would like to think that may be the case, my gut tells me the only motivation that would push the needle (at least for Harbaugh) would be familiarity, i.e. he knows the player, his work ethic, etc., and a known quantity in many ways has more value than an unknown quality. But deep down I probably do believe the comments that said that now he's with the Chargers, he only cares about the Chargers (and thus couldn't care less about setting a draft record; if he thinks another player is even marginally better for the Chargers, that's who he's going with). I mean the guy didn't even wear M gear to the ring ceremony on Saturday; it's an event celebrating the biggest achievement of his career and he's wearing a Chargers shirt...
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
I mean he got a block 'M' tatooed on his shoulder the day of. That's got to count more than a t-shirt, right?
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:21 PM ^
I've been thinking about his not wearing any M gear, and I think it may have been too soon post-departure to do so. Coach obviously loved playing here and coaching here but that last year (or a bit more) was probably a pretty bitter or conflicted time for him. Between the NCAA and the B1G nonsense? Had to be a bit like trying to enjoy the perfect tropical beach vacation spot next to a failing sewage treatment plant.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:52 PM ^
I'd say too soon from the standpoint that he needs Sherrone to be comfortable as the HC. How many previous HC's come back to town so quickly, not to mention so warmly welcomed? It's unprecedented that a former coach keeps coming back, keeps getting that fanbase love, keeps getting uncontrolled love from his former players.
I know Sherrone is secure in his place, but I saw 'no Michigan gear' as a sign of respect that Sherrone is the coach now. In Ann Arbor now, Harbaugh is a fanboy just like us.
Well, a fanboy maybe more like Charles Woodson. Not so much like us...
Yep. That's a plausible explanation too.
Harbaugh can celebrate what he did at U of M and get a tattoo but from the day he signed with the Chargers he is all Chargers. I think a coach moving on is closer to you or I thinking about our last work place than how we think about U of M as fans.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
Barrett will get selected and I wouldn’t mind if my Lions took him late. He’ll be our only LB that’s decent in coverage.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
If those mocks are right; that is huge value from Corum and Zinter in the fourth-ish rounds.
I hope if he's not drafted that the Lions are in on Barnhart as a FA. I think he would be a great OL pickup as a signee.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:04 PM ^
Maybe....
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
Perchance...
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:37 PM ^
How many late round picks do the Chargers have?
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
I'm going to make a prediction: Harbaugh takes JJ with their first pick, ships Herbert out of town, wins the Super Bowl in JJ's rookie season, retires and returns to Ann Arbor to wait for Round 2.
This is a.... bad prediction.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
I sure hope so; that would be neat.
I think they'll get 13-14 drafted, unfortunately. I would not mind one bit if I was wrong and break Georgia's record.
It would be quite a statement if Michigan did set this record. Wishing every Wolverine who is hoping to get drafted - nothing but the best.
We currently have 14 players in draft range and four more in the top 356.
It's not looking great to break the record. Tying the record is very plausible and breaking the record is certainly possible.
FWIW, I think Josh Wallace has a good chance to be drafted. I also believe all 18 prospects are on NFL rosters in the fall.