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Jersey numbers for Michigan football 2025 NFL Draft picks: Most will sport different digits than in college

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•05/12/25•

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Will Johnson
Michigan Wolverines football cornerback Will Johnson was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals. (Photo by Megan Mendoza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Michigan Wolverines football had seven NFL Draft picks in 2025, and they’ve all joined their new teams for rookie minicamp. Here’s a look at the jersey numbers they’ve picked and/or been designated to start their NFL careers.

DT Mason Graham, Cleveland Browns: No. 94

Mason Graham wore No. 55 at Michigan but will move up to No. 94 as a rookie with the Browns. No. 55 is currently held by veteran center Ethan Pocic, who’s entering his ninth season in the league.

Graham became Michigan’s first defensive tackle chosen in the first round since Mazi Smith (No. 26 to the Dallas Cowboys) in 2023. He’s Michigan third-highest drafted defender since the merger in 1966.

TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears: No. 84

Colston Loveland sported No. 18 at Michigan, but those digits are being worn by quarterback Caleb Williams in Chicago. Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. There are two No. 84s on the Bears’ roster, but the other is journeyman wide receiver Miles Boykin, meaning Loveland almost certainly is higher on the priority list since he was the No. 10 overall choice in the draft.

Loveland is the second-highest picked Michigan tight end of all time, behind Paul Seymour (seventh overall in 1970).

DT Kenneth Grant, Miami Dolphins: No. 90

Kenneth Grant didn’t get the No. 78 that he wore in college, but has another solid defensive line number in 90. The 78 jersey was already taken by veteran offensive guard James Daniels. Grant is one of eight Dolphins with a jersey number in the 90s, and all of them are on the defensive line.

This marked the first year with two Wolverines at defensive tackle taken in the first round.

CB Will Johnson, Arizona Cardinals: No. 0

Will Johnson wore No. 2 at Michigan, partly to carry on the legacy of Charles Woodson, who made the digit famous for a Wolverine cornerback by winning the Heisman Trophy in 1997. Now he’s slid down to 0 with the Cardinals — his No. 2 was taken by linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. — and hasn’t explained much why.

“I wanted to keep it single digit. Yeah, I’m going to just say that for now,” Johnson said.

EDGE Josaiah Stewart: No. 41

Josaiah Stewart wore No. 5 in 2023 and No. 0 in 2024 while at Michigan, and now he’s up to 41 with the Rams. Outside linebacker Byron Young is No. 0 and wide receiver Tutu Atwell is No. 5 with Los Angeles.

Michigan is ‘Edge U.,’ with 12 edge rushers selected in the NFL Draft since 2017, Stewart being the most recent. The Wolverines have had at least one edge rusher come off the board eight of the last nine years.

RB Kalel Mullings, Tennessee Titans: No. 28

A linebacker to start his college career and running back to end it, Kalel Mullings sported No. 20 all five years. He’ll now wear No. 28, which carries a lot of meaning in Tennessee. Former Titans running back Chris Johnson wore it from 2008-13, including when he won NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2009, the season in which he amassed a league-record 2,509 yards from scrimmage.

Mullings said after being drafted in the sixth round that he grew up playing with Johnson in Madden and called the former Titan a “cheat code.”

OL Myles Hinton, Philadelphia Eagles: No. 78

Myles Hinton got to keep the No. 78, which he had for three seasons at Stanford and two at Michigan. Hinton’s father, Chris Hinton Sr., wore No. 78 during his time with the Minnesota Vikings from 1994-95 at the tail end of his stellar NFL career as an offensive lineman.

Hinton became the 13th Michigan offensive lineman to be drafted over the last six years when he was taken No. 191 overall in the sixth round.

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