Final NFL mock draft roundup: Where Michigan football players are projected

The 2023 NFL Draft begins Thursday night and runs through Saturday evening. Michigan Wolverines football is one of three programs with a player picked in every draft during the common era (since 1967), and that will continue this weekend.

Michigan has had at least one first-round selection in each of the last four drafts. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith has the best chance of continuing the streak, though cornerback DJ Turner is also in consideration.

Here’s a look at final first-round mock drafts and big board projections for Michigan players heading into the event.

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First-round projections: DT Mazi Smith

Smith can become the first Michigan defensive tackle to be chosen in the first round since Kevin Brooks in 1985. That’s where two mock draft projections have him. Neither ESPN’s Todd McShay nor NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, meanwhile, listed him, or any other Wolverines, in the first round. There were several other mocks without Smith’s name, but four notable ones had him off the board on Day 1.

• NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein: No. 26 to the Dallas Cowboys

“There are a very limited number of a big-bodied interior defenders in this class, so those guys could get pushed up the board, which is what happens here,” Zierlein wrote of the Michigan standout. “Dallas needs to beef up in the middle, and Smith offers above-average athletic talent to go with good size and length.”

• USA Today‘s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: No. 28 to the Cincinnati Bengals

“At 6-3 and 323 pounds with the brute strength to push the pocket and blow up running plays, Smith will fit in nicely in the AFC North,” the analyst wrote. “D.J. Reader only has one year left on his contract, and choosing Smith would give Cincinnati a cost-controlled replacement to keep defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo‘s scheme running smoothly.”

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 29 to the New Orleans Saints

“The Saints want to get better on the defensive line with this pick, and an edge defender like [Clemson’s] Myles Murphy makes sense,” Brugler wrote. “But Smith would give New Orleans the hulking nose tackle it desperately needs to improve its run defense.”

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 29 to the New Orleans Saints

“Smith is getting some first-round buzz because he’s the best run-stuffer in this class,” Kiper wrote of the Michigan lineman. “At 6-foot-3, 323 pounds, he can plug a hole. Teams don’t always prefer tackles with limited pass-rushing upside, but he’d fill a need in New Orleans. I moved Smith to No. 30 overall on my Big Board.”

Michigan players on best prospects list, position rankings

Center Olusegun Oluwatimi

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 5 center

• ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 173 overall, No. 6 center

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 214 overall, No. 7 center

• ESPN’s Jordan Reid: No. 4 center

• ESPN’s Matt Miller: No. 5 center

Offensive tackle Ryan Hayes

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 272 overall, No. 19 offensive tackle

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 79 overall, No. 8 tight end

• ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 71 overall, No. 8 tight end

• NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: No. 71 overall, No. 7 tight end

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 90 overall, No. 7 tight end

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell

• ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 187 overall, No. 24 overall

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 274 overall, No. 36 wide receiver

Defensive tackle Mazi Smith

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 30 overall, No. 3 defensive tackle

• ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 38 overall, No. 5 defensive tackle

• NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: No. 43 overall, No. 5 defensive tackle

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 39 overall, No. 4 defensive tackle

• ESPN’s Jordan Reid: No. 4 defensive tackle

• ESPN’s Matt Miller: No. 3 defensive tackle

EDGE Mike Morris

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 133 overall, No. 9 outside linebacker

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 185 overall, No. 25 EDGE

Cornerback DJ Turner

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 55 overall, No. 8 cornerback

• ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 56 overall, No. 9 cornerback

• NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: No. 62 overall, No. 10 cornerback

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 42 overall, No. 7 cornerback

Kicker Jake Moody

• NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: No. 150 overall, No. 1 kicker

• ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 2 kicker

• ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 1 kicker

• The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler: No. 158 overall, No. 1 kicker

• ESPN’s Jordan Reid: No. 2 kicker

• ESPN’s Matt Miller: No. 2 kicker