Mel Kiper’s 2025 NFL Draft Big Board features four Michigan Wolverines in Top 25

Michigan Wolverines football should be well-represented at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft according to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. The iconic draft guru has four U-M stars inside the top 25 on his latest big board, released ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Sitting atop the list of Michigan draft hopefuls is defensive tackle Mason Graham, who comes in at No. 3 overall behind Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter and Penn State OLB Abdul Carter. Graham appeared in 39 games at Michigan with 27 starts, earning a starting role in base packages his freshman season in 2022 while emerging as a stalwart up front for the Wolverines. He was an All-American last year and is a two-time All-Big Ten selection, earning first-team honors this year from both the coaches and media.

“I love Graham’s technique,” Kiper said. “His leverage gives him an advantage at the point of attack, and interior offensive linemen struggle with his power and quickness. Graham has strong and active hands, and he has proved effective against the run and pass from inside. He had two sacks against Minnesota in September but managed just 1.5 the rest of the season.”

Not far behind him was classmate and cornerback Will Johnson, who sits at No. 6 overall. He played in 32 games with 22 starts over three seasons at Michigan. The former five-star recruit is a two-time All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team in 2023 and second-team by the media in 2024). He earned first-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated as a sophomore in 2023, and was the Defensive MVP of the national championship game, helping lead the Maize and Blue to their 12th title in history and first since 1997.

“Johnson is so instinctive in coverage, and his ability to read quarterbacks jumps out when you watch him,” Kiper said. “He has great quickness in his transition, allowing him to make plays on the ball. Johnson returned both of his interceptions this season for touchdowns, and you can see those instincts throughout his first pick-six in Michigan’s opener against Fresno State — when he jumped a screen and took the ball 86 yards to the house. He has nine career picks. Johnson missed the team’s last six games with a toe injury.”

Tight end Colston Loveland was next up at No. 16 overall and the second-ranked at his position in the class behind only Penn State’s Tyler Warren, who was 12th. Loveland set the program record for receptions by a tight end in Michigan history this season with 56 grabs for 582 yards and 5 touchdowns in 10 games played. The third-year pass catcher missed the USC and Ohio State games – both Michigan victories – due to injuries, then opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama. He led the team in receiving in every game he played this season.

“If you are looking for a tight end who can consistently stretch the deep middle part of the field, Loveland is your guy,” Kiper wrote. “He averaged 8.3 air yards per target over three college seasons. The QB play was subpar for Michigan, which limited Loveland. But he is a difficult matchup for defenses, and he averaged nearly nine targets per game.”

Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant rounded out the list at No. 25, fourth at his position behind Graham, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon. Grant appeared in 41 games in a Michigan uniform along the defensive line, making 17 starts and getting the opening nod in all 12 games this season. He was a third-team All-American selection this year and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree (second team, coaches, 2023-24; second team, media, 2024; third team, media, 2023).

“Considering his size, Grant has terrific athletic traits and explosion,” Kiper said. “His instincts stand out, too — he’s an extremely alert football player. And while he might not rack up sacks (3.5 in 2023, three more this season), he is adept at batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, recording nine pass breakups over the past two seasons.”

Senior pass rusher Josaiah Stewart made Kiper’s positional rankings as the class’ 10th-best outside linebacker prospect. He was the only Michigan player in this grouping that did not enter the draft early.

The 2025 NFL Draft is April 24-26 from Green Bay, Wisconsin. The first round will be held on night one with the second and third rounds on night two. The fourth through seventh rounds will take place on day three.