Michigan NFL Draft: Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant lead way in pre-combine mock draft

Michigan Wolverines football will send a top-heavy talent crop to the 2025 NFL Draft, with as many as four potential first-round picks. The crop is headlined by defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.

This week, the Michigan stars will have a chance to boost their stocks and solidify their draft candidacy with the NFL Combine taking place in Indianapolis, which includes medical testing, meeting with teams and on-field workouts split between Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.

RELATED: Michigan NFL Combine preview: 8 Wolverines can alter fortunes in Indianapolis

The following full 7-round simulation was run using the Pro Football Focus mock draft machine. NOTE: The draft order is not yet official pending final compensatory picks awarded to teams.

Defensive tackle Mason Graham: New York Jets (First round, No. 7 overall)

2024 stats: 46 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass defended (12 games)

Graham is seen as one of the surest bets in the class and a player who checks all the boxes from production to traits. Some might argue he is the best all-around player in this spring’s event, but quarterback-needy teams will push him down the board a bit. Here he gets to be a blue-chip prospect to build around for first-year head coach Aaron Glenn.

Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant: Indianapolis Colts (First round, No. 14 overall)

2024 stats: 32 total tackles, 3 sacks, 2 fumbles recovered, 5 passes defended (12 games)

A great week of testing could mean Grant’s stock soars this spring, and there is at least some buzz building that he could be the second Wolverine off the board when the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around.

Cornerback Will Johnson: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (First round, No. 19 overall)

2024 stats: 14 total tackles, 2 INT (2 for TD), 3 passes defended (6 games)

Johnson was limited by a foot injury for much of this season. But now that it is rested up, he has a shot to regain some momentum as an NFL Draft prospect and arguably the top cornerback in the class. Even with limited film at Michigan from this season, he has 2.5 years of strong play and has gotten the better of several wide receivers already playing in the pros. Once considered a consensus top-10 prospect, the spring will be huge for him.

Tight end Colston Loveland: Las Vegas Raiders (Second round, No. 37 overall)

2024 stats: 56 receptions for 582 yards, 5 TD (10 games)

Loveland is dealing with a shoulder injury recovery after undergoing surgery this winter, which might push him down boards a bit. Still, his doctor sent a letter to teams before the NFL Combine saying the former Michigan star should be full-go for minicamps and such. Tom Brady would love for a first-round talent like Loveland to fall in his lap as the rebuild takes shape in Las Vegas.

EDGE Josaiah Stewart: Detroit Lions (Second round, No. 60 overall)

2024 stats: 33 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles (11 games)

Josaiah Stewart has the skillset to go much higher than this, but teams will likely knock the Michigan pass rusher for his lack of size (6-1, 245) relative to his peers. The Lions are looking to bolster their pass rush this year as they gun for a Super Bowl and Stewart could pair nicely with Wolverine legend Aidan Hutchinson.

RB Kalel Mullings: Las Vegas Raiders (Fifth round, No. 143 overall)

2024 stats: 185 carries for 948 yards, 12 touchdowns, 6 receptions for 35 yards (12 games)

Kalel Mullings went from unsung hero to Michigan legend this year, darn near single-handedly leading the team to wins over USC, Minnesota and Ohio State with some clutch late-game runs. This season was the heaviest workload of his career by far, so there is plenty of tread left on the tires heading into the next stage of his career.

Michigan combine invites not selected

Michigan will also have running back Donovan Edwards (PFF’s No. 290 prospect) and offensive tackle Myles Hinton at the 2025 NFL Combine. However, they did not come off the board in the simulation run on PFF on Wednesday morning. This is an important week for both.