Where nine Michigan prospects check in on Mel Kiper Jr.'s NFL Draft big board, position rankings
Michigan Wolverines football has one player to appear on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2024 NFL Draft big board, which was updated Feb. 9. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy checks in No. 23, which was his exact same spot in Kiper’s last big board release.
McCarthy is the fourth-ranked quarterback, behind USC’s Caleb Williams (No. 1), LSU’s Jayden Daniels (No. 3) and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Those four are the only quarterbacks to be top-25 prospects on Kiper’s rankings.
“McCarthy has first-round arm talent and can beat defenses with his legs too,” Kiper wrote. “He ranked third in the country in Total QBR (89.2) and completion percentage (72.3 percent) in 2023. Since he took over as the Wolverines’ starter in 2022, he threw 44 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Five of those INTs have come in two games, however; he threw three against Bowling Green earlier in 2023, and he had two pick-sixes in the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to TCU last season. Outside of those two games, he has managed games effectively and made great decisions with the football.”
Kiper pointed out that the Michigan standout is a projected first-round pick.
“I recently projected McCarthy in the middle of Round 1 in my debut mock draft, and I think he will put up great testing numbers at the combine. Sure, he averaged just 22.1 pass attempts per game in 2023 and only needed to complete 10 passes in the national title game, but his upside is immense.”
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Here’s a look at Michigan’s other draft hopefuls that stand top 10 at their position according to Kiper:
Zak Zinter: No. 2 guard
Zinter missed the final three-plus games of Michigan’s national championship-winning season with a broken leg, but he expects to be close to fully healthy early this year.
The unanimous All-American ranks only behind Washington’s Troy Fautanu among guards. In 2023, there wasn’t an interior offensive lineman selected in the first round, but there were five selected in the second.
Junior Colson: No. 3 off-ball linebacker
Colson checks in behind only Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper and Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. In the 2023 draft, the No. 3 linebacker was picked No. 76 overall in the seventh round.
Blake Corum: No. 4 running back
Michigan’s all-time leader with 58 rushing touchdowns slots behind Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, Florida State’s Trey Benson and Notre Dame’s Audric Estime. The fourth running back off the board was taken in the third round last year.
Kris Jenkins: No. 4 defensive tackle
One of the anchors of Michigan’s elite defensive line, Jenkins ranks below Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton, Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat and Texas’ Byron Murphy II. Jenkins produced 2.5 sacks and an interception last season.
Jenkins has a legitimate shot to be a first-round pick. There were four first-round defensive tackles in 2023, and two more went in round two.
Drake Nugent: No. 7 center
The Stanford transfer was a Rimington Award finalist in 2023, his lone season at Michigan. The first-team All-Big Ten honoree left a year of eligibility on the table to enter the draft, and it appears he’ll be selected at some point.
Jaylen Harrell: No. 8 outside linebacker
Harrell led Michigan with 10 tackles for loss and 7 sacks last season. He had a tackle, including a half-stop for loss, and 1 fumble recovery in the Senior Bowl.
Braiden McGregor: No. 8 defensive end
McGregor posted 9 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season, adding 3 pass breakups and a forced fumble.
AJ Barner: No. 10 tight end
In his lone season at Michigan in 2023, he hauled in 22 receptions for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns. Barner led the country’s tight ends with an 82.2 overall PFF grade and 81.4 run-blocking rating (minimum 250 snaps).
Barner caught 2 passes for 17 yards with an 11-yard long on 5 targets in the Senior Bowl.
