Michigan football in the 2023 NFL Draft: Preview, projections, more

NFL Draft weekend is upon us with the Michigan Wolverines set to once again be well-represented in the event. U-M is one of three programs in college football history, along with Florida and USC, to have a player selected in every event in the common draft era.

That streak will continue for Michigan, potentially as early as Thursday night. A pair of prospects – cornerback DJ Turner and defensive tackle Mazi Smith – have been tabbed as potential first round prospects by different draft analysts. It will all come down to fit and what teams have them graded on their boards in as wide open a draft class as there has been in recent years.

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The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

Cornerback DJ Turner

Projected: First/second-round pick

RELATED: DJ Turner’s NFL Draft profile

DJ Turner may have not been the Michigan prospect with the most buzz heading into the 2023 NFL Combine, but he left Indianapolis with that being the case.

Turner was one of the top stories at the combine on March 3, running an official 4.26 40-yard dash, the 4th fastest in the history of the event. While he had been a very good player on the Wolverine defense, the speed caught even the most diehard of fans and draftniks by surprise.

Wide receiver John Ross (4.22), cornerback Kalon Barnes (4.23) and East Carolina running back Chris Johnson (4.24) still hold the fastest marks in NFL Combine history, but Turner has now put himself on a historic pedestal. His 4.26 time ties him with UTSA’s Tariq Woolen, who ran his time last year before being drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks.

Once his jumps were recorded and his 40-yard dash time was made official, Turner opted out of the rest of the workouts and saved his on-field work for U-M’s pro day on March 17.

“I just wanted to show how fluid I am as a DB,” Turner said in Ann Arbor. “That was the main focus. At the combine, I showed how fast I am and how explosive I am. Today was just focusing on showing how fluid I am as a DB.”

Turner was a two-time All-Big Ten selection as a Wolverine, making 22 starts in 36 career games played. While he played on the boundary primarily in college, his size and athletic profile could see him operate out of the slot. He sees himself as a press-man corner that can do whatever is asked of him.

“It just depends on what a team wants,” Turner said. “There’s Joey Porter out there. He’s a bigger corner. [Witherspoon, he’s out there — we kind of have the same body type. There’s [Kelee] Ringo, a bigger corner. I know my competition.”

Most pundits have Turner as a second or third-round pick, but ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. sees a path where he could sneak into the first round.

“I think he’s got a chance to sneak into the late first (round),” Kiper said on March 22 on a conference call. “I’d put him in the mid-to-late second round right now. Didn’t put him in the mock first, but I’ll tell you what, he has improved his stock dramatically.”

Defensive tackle Mazi Smith

Projected: First/second-round pick

RELATED: Mazi Smith’s NFL Draft profile

The former Bruce Feldman Freaks List headliner opted out of most work at the combine but did participate at U-M’s pro day on March 17.

Smith recorded a 29 1/2-inch vertical jump and 8-foot, 11-inch broad jump during his pro day, per Michigan. He tied for second in the bench press at the NFL Combine with 34 reps of 225 pounds. Other than measuring in, this has been the only bout of athletic testing he has done publicly this draft cycle.
Smith’s tape at Michigan is strong enough to warrant early consideration, but the athletic testing helps paint a picture of an upward trajectory.

“You start training like a track star as a big fella, it starts getting hard on you a little bit,” Smith said during a brief session with the media on pro day. “I’m good at football, man. I ain’t no 100-meter sprinter.”

He continued: “These coaches are getting paid a lot of money to know and be able to see (my) traits. I’m trying to listen to what they say, what they see — and what they tell me I need to work on.”

Smith did not participate in the combine other than the bench press, citing “little tweaks” for opting out of the workouts.

Part of Smith’s pre-draft process has included answering questions about a gun incident this past fall. He faced a felony gun charge for carrying a loaded weapon without a permit, but later plead down to a misdemeanor. He says all he can do is tell the truth.

“It comes up,” Smith said. “They are about to invest a lot of money. They gotta know the ins and outs of what you got going on.”

The Draft Network’s Damian Parson sees a player that has a chance to be one of the better run-defending linemen in the 2023 class.

“Smith has a two-down appeal right now as an NFL prospect,” he wrote. “His value as a run defender is high. If defenses continue to run the two-high safety sets next season, he will be valued well. He does not offer high-end passing-down value. There is some ability to impact quarterbacks with interior pressure but he will need to play quicker and more refined technically.”

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker

Projected: Third/fourth round pick

RELATED: Luke Schoonmaker’s NFL Draft profile

Michigan went into the 2022 season knowing it had one of the best tight end duos in the country in Erick All and Luke Schoonmaker, who were referred to as 1a and 1b options at the position in the leadup to the season.

All suffered a back injury early in the year, which made Schoonmaker the undisputed top option at the position. He used the opportunity to put together his best season in a U-M jersey during his fifth year, racking up 35 catches for 418 yards and three touchdowns.

Schoonmaker is seen as a sleeper in the 2023 NFL Draft class due to his frame and athleticism. A shoulder injury limited some of his participation at the combine, but a 4.63 40-yard dash headlined a standout showing where he tested strongly amongst his peers.

“Versatile combination tight end capable of performing a variety of tasks in one-, two- or three-tight end sets,” NFL.com says. “Schoonmaker steps foot on the field ready for action as a run blocker and does a nice job of competing in the entry and sustain phases of the block. He will need to add more muscle and play strength but already has a feel for creating run-lane angles with his footwork. [Schoonmaker] has the athletic talent to run a slightly expanded route tree, but he needs to do a better job of competing aggressively for catch space and meeting throws with extended hands. He could see action early but might need a year or so before he works himself into a full-time TE2 role.”

Center Olu Oluwatimi

Projected: Mid-round Pick

RELATED: Olu Oluwatimi’s NFL Draft profile

Olu Oluwatimi was a godsend for the program last year in anchoring the offensive line. The Virginia transfer came in and not only replaced Andrew Vastardis in the middle of the line but was an upgrade and arguably the heartbeat of the trench attack.

Oluwatimi was a player that likely could have leaped the NFL after his senior season at Virginia, but chose Michigan to take his game to the next level.

Now that he is going to the 2023 NFL Draft process, it seems his gamble paid off. Most analysts have him as a potential mid-round selection.

“I feel like I could have made the jump last year,” Oluwatimi said at Michigan football’s pro day. “Probably wouldn’t have known if I would’ve got drafted. That’s probably the only thing. But at the end of the day, it’s not where you start, it is where you finish for the NFL.

“I feel like could have made the jump last year, but I feel like I positioned myself coming here and I’m pretty sure I’ll get drafted, hopefully. I’m happy right where I am at.”

The future NFL players on Michigan’s 2022 roster helped Oluwatimi unlock another step in his development, but it was ultimately the coaches that threw the kitchen sink at him. He expects to be all the better for it.

“The defense that [Jesse Minter] throws at us on a daily basis, all of that prepared me,” Oluwatimi said. “I feel like going against that sharpened my tools each day and made game day easier, and then be able to go out on game day, put good things on tape, it positioned me to be in a better spot now.

“[Jim Harbaugh] knows what the NFL game is like. So him telling you and giving you instant feedback and true feedback of whether he thinks you can make the transition and be a successful starter in the NFL, it’s proven. If he gives you that blessing, you still gotta go earn it, but then that gives you that confidence that you can go do it.”

Other potential Michigan draftees

Michigan sent nine players to the combine this year – Turner, Smith, Schoonmaker, Oluwatimi, wide receiver Ronnie Bell (draft profile), edge defender Mike Morris (draft profile), offensive tackle Ryan Hayes (draft profile), kicker Jake Moody and punter Brad Robbins.

Bell will be drafted, but his range is still to be determined. Most expect him to come off the board sometime on day three between the fourth and seventh rounds. He tested well at the NFL Combine, running a 4.54 40-yard dash and posted a 6.59-second cone drill at Michigan’s pro day. Given his ability to operate out of the slot and his experience returning kicks and punts, teams could see him as a value pick on day three.

“He participated in position drills and looked good running routes. Bell, projected to be selected in the fourth round, met one-on-one with the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs,” Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline wrote after U-M’s pro day.

The NFL Combine was rough on Morris from a testing perspective. The former Michigan EDGE had an underwhelming Thursday on the field. He ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash (20th out of 21 defensive ends), with a 1.72-second 10-yard split (19th of 21). His 28.50″ vertical jump was 28th of 31 players at his position, and his 9’2″ broad jump slotted 29th out of the same amount.

Morris’ stock is anywhere from the mid-to-late rounds. Despite the rough testing, he still feels like Michigan has prepared him and his teammates for the NFL.

“I feel like Michigan prepared me in the mental aspect of it,” he said. “This place is run just like the NFL. I’d say we probably practice and hit more, but that’s probably the difference.”

Oluwatimi is the headliner for Michigan on the offensive line, but there could be some mid-round value in left tackle Ryan Hayes, too. He posted his best season in his fifth year with the program in 2022. Despite that, there are questions about if he is a tackle or a guard at the next level. If a team sees him as a depth piece, the answer could differ depending on the situation.

“Hayes has the size, and play demeanor NFL decision-makers will value,” The Draft Network writes. “He is functional to solid in both run and pass blocking. Yet, he is not a master of either. I project him to be kicked inside to guard due to his arm length. Hayes is better battling in tight quarters where he can eliminate the issue of arm length/reach. I do not envision him as a long-term starting option for an offense at tackle but as a viable backup in a pinch. There is a path for him as a guard at the next level.”

Four additional Wolverines participated in U-M’s pro day with cornerback Gemon Green, tight ends Joel Honigford and Carter Selzer and kicker/punter Rhett Andersen going through workouts in front of all 32 NFL teams. Most expect Moody and Robbins to land with a team as either draft picks or priority free agents. Green’s best shot at earning a tryout could be via a late-round selection, too. His path most likely comes in the form of a tryout at a rookie minicamp sometime this spring.