Four Michigan Wolverines go in first round of latest ESPN mock
The Michigan Wolverines have four of the best players in the country, all juniors, in cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant and tight end Colston Loveland. All could be first round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and ESPN’s Jordan Reid is predicting just that.
In his latest mock, Reid has the third-year quartet of stars going within the first 32 picks of this spring’s event one year after a program-record 13 players were selected. The group is headlined by Johnson, who goes No. 6 overall to the Los Angeles Rams, joining former teammate and running back Blake Corum.
“Even after signing veterans in the secondary this offseason in Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White, the Rams’ struggles in pass defense have continued,” Reid wrote. “They are allowing 9.0 yards per attempt, by far the worst number in the NFL. But Johnson fits as a high-impact playmaker and turnover machine; he has nine INTs over three seasons. At 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, he’s a bigger corner who plays with physicality. And he’s the clear top cover man in this class.”
Graham went two picks after at No. 8 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he would join five former Michigan players currently in the organization – defensive backs DJ Turner and Dax Hill, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle Andrew Stueber.
“Graham could help Cincinnati as both a stout run defender in the middle and a disruptive interior pass rusher,” Reid said. “He is my No. 2 prospect, and there’s a shot he could be drafted even higher than this spot. And with B.J. Hill in the last year of his deal, Graham could team up with Sheldon Rankins and rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. (his Michigan teammate in 2023) on the Bengals’ interior. He has 14 pressures when lined up inside, tied for the third most in the country.”
Graham’s defensive tackle mate, Grant, went No. 23 overall to the Buffalo Bills in Reid’s mock scenario.
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“Grant is an urgent and explosive playmaker who just keeps getting better in his first season as a full-time starter,” he said. “And while Ed Oliver is a star and DeWayne Carter (2024 third-round pick) looks like an early hit, continuing to add along the interior would be wise in Buffalo. The Bills are allowing 5.3 yards per run this season, ranking at the bottom of the league.”
Rounding out the group is Loveland, who has paced the passing game thus far even with quarterback inconsistency. It has not been enough to damage his draft stock, going No. 28 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Yes, Loveland’s numbers are down this season (29 catches for 261 yards and two scores) with some inconsistent quarterback play in Ann Arbor,” Reid said. “And yes, he has dealt with injuries this year. But Loveland is still viewed as the top player at the position in the 2025 class, and he’d be a favorite of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Loveland is a smooth route runner with good hands. I could see him bringing an added dimension to the Bucs’ offense as a flexed-out tight end.”
The 2025 NFL Draft is set for April 24-26 from Green Bay, Wisconsin. It will be the 90th version of the event
