In this week’s Michigan Musings, we dive into an early analysis of Michigan’s top NFL Draft prospects and where they are projected to be selected, recruiting updates, an overnight offensive line rebuild, and more:
Welcome to Michigan Musings! Every Monday – at least until the start of football season – this will serve as your prime source for all things Michigan Wolverines; a weekly digest featuring thoughts and commentary on (mostly) the top stories from the week that was. Similar to a newsletter (Brewsletter?), this will feature an assortment of stories and opinions from football to basketball to hockey to pop culture and everything in between.
Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let’s dive in.
The college football season is officially over. Unfortunately for the best of us, there was a scarlet and grey stain on the final few weeks, but we will always remember what happened in Columbus last November. “People don’t forget .” As the calendar turns and the NFL winds down, the unofficial sport of draft season takes hold for us football junkies.
The NFL Draft is one of the most exciting times of the year. There’s nothing like it — college football fans and NFL fans intersect for three months of analysis, comps and hypotheticals.
“Where are the wide receivers and offensive tackles?” “Is Travis Hunter the 2.0 version of Prime?” “Could only one quarterback go in the first round?”
Culminating in three days of hope, skepticism and roster construction.
“We always nail Day 2, and that’s where your culture is built anyway!” “Why didn’t we trade back?!” “Abdul Carter is a cornerstone to build around!”
Once again, the Michigan Wolverines will be well represented at the NFL Draft, and even more so this year in the first round with four Wolverines widely considered locks to hear their names called. Let’s take a closer look at these players and peek at where to expect the other Wolverines to be selected in April.
DT Mason Graham
Graham is a scheme-agnostic can’t-miss prospect (I wish that didn’t rhyme like a Dr. Seuss story). The best defensive tackle prospect in this class, Graham is as quick as he is violent and has the best hands of any defensive lineman in the entire class. His arms might be shorter than desired, but he has never struggled to the point of calling it a weakness in creating separation against bigger and longer offensive linemen. The junior is the best defensive tackle prospect since Jalen Carter and could go as high as No. 4 in April.
Estimated Positional Rank: 1
Projected Draft Range: First Round; Top-10
Most likely landing spots: Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers
CB Will Johnson
Johnson is the best pure corner in this class. Travis Hunter brings more to the table in terms of versatility, but if you want a true No. 1 corner, Johnson is the pick. Finishing his collegiate career with more pick-sixes than touchdowns allowed, Johnson has shadowed and locked down some of the biggest names in the sport over the last three years. The former Wolverine has ideal size for the next level and can play at a high level in both zone and man coverages. Questions about his durability will arise during the evaluation process, but will be outweighed by his football IQ and well-rounded game.
Estimated Positional Rank: Top 2
Projected Draft Range: First Round; Top-10
Most likely landing spots: Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers
DT Kenneth Grant
Grant is a freak athlete who will blow scouts away at the NFL Combine . A mountain of a man, Grant is built and plays like a premier run-stopper who will immediately fill a need at the next level. Grant is what Mazi Smith was supposed to be except bigger, faster and flat-out better. His pass-rushing and stamina will both need to improve to keep him on the field on third downs, but Grant’s upside will have “traits” evaluators salivating.
Estimated Positional Rank: Top 5
Projected Draft Range: First Round; Picks 10-20
Most likely landing spots: Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals
TE Colston Loveland
The best pure receiving tight end in this class, Loveland is a smooth operator when running routes. A natural pass catcher, Loveland’s size is a problem for defensive backs and his speed causes issues for linebackers. His flare for the big play can negatively impact his fundamentals, but these issues feel isolated to a star player trying to overcompensate for a struggling offense last season. As a blocker, Loveland is above average but will need to improve consistency and pad level in the NFL.
Estimated Positional Rank: Top 3
Projected Draft Range: First Round; Picks 14-22
Most likely landing spots: Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers
The Best of the Rest
- Edge Josaiah Stewart is a likely Day 2 pick who plays with some of the best leverage of any player in this class. Despite a strong edge class, his combination of strength and speed has some scouts thinking he could sneak into the first round with a strong Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.
- Running back Kalel Mullings’ combination of size and quickness is intriguing to scouts. And although this is one of the best running back classes of the last 10 years, Mullings looks to be an early Day 3 pick.
- Did anyone’s stock fall off more in the last two years than running back Donovan Edwards? Still, Dono’s ability as a home-run hitter and a versatile pass-catcher will get his name called later on Day 3 as a potential offensive and special teams weapon. If he lands with an outside-zone team, do not be surprised to see a long-awaited return to form.
- Offensive tackle Myles Hinton, corner Aamir Hall, safety Makari Paige and guard Josh Priebe are firmly on the draft/UDFA bubble. A strong showing anywhere in the next three months — interviews, testing, pro days — could be the difference in having a fun draft party or skipping out to see The Accountant 2.
- Safety Wesley Walker and wide receiver C.J. Charleston will likely go undrafted and have their choice of teams as UDFAs.
Quick Hits
- Football Recruiting: *still in a Ty Haywood prayer circle*
- Football Returnees: God Moore has returned! Safety Rod Moore is officially returning to Michigan for a fifth season. Moore is arguably the best free safety to ever play for the Wolverines and has one of the highest football IQs I have ever seen. Now, will the Wolverines keep him at safety? Or move him to nickel similar to Dax Hill in 2021 to maximize his impact?
- Transfer Portal: Sherrone Moore has made it abundantly clear he will never have an offensive line room as weak as last season. It has been reported that Moore and Michigan have already been in contact with Notre Dame guard Rocco Spindler. If Spindler joins the Wolverines, it would be Michigan’s third offensive line addition via the transfer portal this cycle.
Departures: Myles Hinton (starter), Josh Priebe (starter), Dom Giudice, Jeff Persi, Zach Gentry, Raheem Anderson, Tristan Bounds
Returning Starters: Greg Crippen, Giovanni El-Hadi, Evan Link, Andrew Sprague (started ReliaQuest Bowl)
Additions: Andrew Babalola, Brady Norton, Lawrence Hattar
Key Reserves: Blake Frazier, Nathan Efobi, Jake Guarnera, Luke Hamilton
This is how you strengthen a weakness in the short and long term. Moore immediately addresses concerns heading into 2025 by adding key veterans through the portal, while simultaneously building for the future with developmental talent and high-end recruits.
Some will criticize the depth as being too tackle-heavy, but moving a tackle to guard is a vastly easier transition than moving a guard to tackle. That said, the addition of one proven center to compete and/or support Crippen would earn the offensive line reshuffle an A+ this offseason, especially if they land Haywood.