Michigan football: J.J. McCarthy, Kris Jenkins listed as first-round picks in 2024 NFL mock draft
Michigan Wolverines football has had a first-round NFL Draft pick five consecutive years. The Athletic analyst Dane Brugler believes that streak will continue, placing two Wolverines on his one-round mock draft for 2024.
Brugler projects junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy No. 15 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders and senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins No. 22 to the Baltimore Ravens.
McCarthy is the fourth quarterback to appear on the mock draft, following USC’s Caleb Williams (No. 1 overall), North Carolina’s Drake Maye (No. 4) and Texas’ Quinn Ewers.
Michigan hasn’t had a quarterback be selected in the first round since Jim Harbaugh — now the team’s head coach entering his ninth season — in 1985. Harbaugh was taken by the Chicago Bears with the 26th pick. He’s the Wolverines’ highest-drafted signal-caller in the modern era.
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A dual-threat quarterback, McCarthy led Michigan to the Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff appearance during his first season as the starter. The La Grange Park, Ill., native completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. He also rushed 70 times for 306 yards and 5 scores.
“The fourth quarterback drafted in this mock, and you don’t need to squint to see the talent with McCarthy,” Brugler wrote. “He is a loose athlete for his size with NFL-level arm strength and the poise to make plays.”
The Wolverines have had just one quarterback be drafted during Harbaugh’s coaching career — Jake Rudock in the 2016 sixth round.
Michigan saw defensive tackle Mazi Smith get picked by the Dallas Cowboys No. 26 in the first round this year. He’s the Wolverines’ highest-drafted defensive tackle and first to go in the opening round since Kevin Brooks in 1985 (No. 17). Now, the Maize and Blue are projected to have back-to-back first-round interior defensive linemen.
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Jenkins ranked fifth on the team with 54 tackles last season, his first as a full-fledged starter. He registered 3.5 tackles for loss, sacks and 2 quarterback hurries. A likely captain for this season, Jenkins has already had a big offseason, having gained roughly 15 pounds, surpassing the 300-pound mark.
The analyst mocked Jenkins as the second defensive tackle off the board, behind Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton (No. 18), and ahead of the only other interior D-lineman in the first round, Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. (No. 25). Brugler believes Jenkins would’ve been a top-75 pick in the 2022 draft had he declared. With a big season, he could improve his stock even further.
“I gave Jenkins a second-round grade based on his 2022 tape,” Brugler revealed. “If he takes the next step in his development in 2023, the first round could be in range. He is quick off the ball to make plays versus the run and as a pass rusher.”
To Brugler’s point, Jenkins led the nation’s interior defensive linemen with 40 run-defense tackles in 2022, per PFF. He also slotted ninth among Big Ten defensive tackles with 20 pressures in pass rush settings, just 5 behind Smith, who checked in sixth. Jenkins has said this offseason he hopes to improve his pass rush prowess.
Jenkins’ father, Kris Jenkins Sr., was a second-round pick by he Carolina Panthers in 2001. He was a four-time All-Pro defensive tackle, who also played for the New York Jets.
