Ten former Michigan football players in the NFL to watch in 2024
Michigan Wolverines football has 70 players who have been in NFL training camps ahead of the 2024 season. Here, we focus on 10 who are most worthy of watching this year (though many others will make big impacts).
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WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Helping the Texans make the postseason for the first time since 2019, Collins paced the NFC South team with 80 receptions, 1,297 receiving yards and 8 touchdown grabs. Per ESPN, Collins is the No. 16 receiver for points-per-reception fantasy football leagues in 2024, expected to once again be the top target for second-year Houston signal-caller C.J. Stroud.
RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
Head coach Sean McVay is known for holding key players out of preseason games, and Corum is in that group. He didn’t appear in either of the Rams’ first two clashes, since he’s expected to have a big role this fall. Corum will share the backfield with second-year pro Kyren Williams, who led the team with 1,144 rushing yards a year ago.
LB Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers
After totaling a team-high 9 sacks and 7 tackles for loss last season, Gary was voted by his peers as the No. 50 overall player in the NFL. He signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension last season, showing the Packers’ trust in his ability to impact the franchise — and make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks — well into the future.
OL Graham Glasgow, Detroit Lions
Heading into his ninth NFL season, Glasgow is projected to start at right guard on what Pro Football Focus considers to be the best offensive line in the league. He signed a three-year, $20 million contract with Detroit after shining a year ago, when he started 18 of 20 total contests. Glasgow and the Lions made the NFC championship game last season, falling to San Francisco, and are poised to contend at the top of the conference once again.
DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles
Following a 3-sack and 30-quarterback pressure campaign in 2023, Graham is entering his 15th and final season as a professional, he announced in late-July. He’s totaled 73 sacks and 120 tackles for loss in regular seasons to this point.
DE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
The No. 47 player in the league as voted on by his peers, Hutchinson is regarded as one of the top pass rushers in the world. He was second in the NFL with 121 pressures a year ago, and he checked in tied 12th with 11.5 sacks. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Lions have the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+1200).
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C Olu Oluwatimi, Seattle Seahawks
Listed atop the team’s unofficial depth chart at center, Oluwatimi is set to go from backup to starter in his second season. The team recently traded away center Nick Harris after Oluwatimi impressed with 45 snaps in a preseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers, signaling confidence in the former winner of the Outland (best interior lineman) and Rimington (best center) trophies.
OL Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots
This offseason, Onwenu inked a three-year, $57 million contract to remain with the Patriots. He’s slated as the starter at right tackle, after finishing 24th among NFL tackles with a 71.5 overall Pro Football Focus grade in 2023 (minimum 700 snaps).
DE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts
NFL trainer Eddy McGilvera, who’s known for developing defensive linemen, proclaimed in July that he’d “never seen a guy have an offseason like Kwity Paye” as the former Michigan star is heading into his fourth campaign in the league. Paye was second on the Colts with 8.5 sacks a season ago and is currently listed as a starter at defensive end.
CB Mike Sainristil, Washington Commanders
One of the few Michigan rookies projected to start right away, Sainristil plays the ‘star’ — or nickel back — position for a Commanders team entering a new era under head man Dan Quinn. Washington defensive backs coach Tommy Donatell said this about Sainristil during training camp: “This dude triggers. When he sees something, he goes. There’s no hesitation in this guy’s game.”
Michigan players at NFL training camps
| Player | Position | Team | Played At Michigan |
| Erick All* | TE | Cincinnati Bengals | 2019-22 |
| Daylen Baldwin | WR | Arizona Cardinals | 2021 |
| AJ Barner | TE | Seattle Seahawks | 2023 |
| Karsen Barnhart | OL | Los Angeles Chargers | 2019-23 |
| Michael Barrett | LB | Carolina Panthers | 2018-23 |
| Ronnie Bell | WR | San Francisco 49ers | 2018-22 |
| Ben Bredeson | OG | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2016-19 |
| Devin Bush | LB | Cleveland Browns | 2016-18 |
| Zach Charbonnet* | RB | Seattle Seahawks | 2019-20 |
| Nico Collins | WR | Houston Texans | 2017-19 |
| Junior Colson | LB | Los Angeles Chargers | 2021-23 |
| Blake Corum | RB | Los Angeles Rams | 2020-23 |
| Mike Danna | DE | Kansas City Chiefs | 2019 |
| Michael Dwumfour* | DT | Chicago Bears | 2017-19 |
| Chris Evans | RB | Cincinnati Bengals | 2016-18, ‘20 |
| Rashan Gary | LB | Green Bay Packers | 2016-18 |
| Zach Gentry | TE | Las Vegas Raiders | 2016-18 |
| Graham Glasgow | OL | Detroit Lions | 2012-15 |
| Brandon Graham | DE | Philadelphia Eagles | 2006-09 |
| Vincent Gray^ | CB | Cleveland Browns | 2018-21 |
| Gemon Green | CB | Green Bay Packers | 2019-22 |
| Jaylen Harrell | OLB | Tennessee Titans | 2020-23 |
| Hassan Haskins | RB | Tennessee Titans | 2018-21 |
| Ryan Hayes | OT | Miami Dolphins | 2019-22 |
| LaDarius Henderson | OG | Houston Texans | 2023 |
| Dax Hill | CB | Cincinneti Bengals | 2019-21 |
| Christopher Hinton | DT | Los Angeles Chargers | 2019-21 |
| James Hudson III* | OT | Cleveland Browns | 2017-18 |
| Khaleke Hudson | LB | New Orleans Saints | 2016-19 |
| Maurice Hurst II | DT | Cleveland Browns | 2014-17 |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Detroit Lions | 2018-21 |
| Kris Jenkins | DT | Cincinnati Bengals | 2020-23 |
| Cornelius Johnson | WR | Los Angeles Chargers | 2019-23 |
| Trevor Keegan | OG | Philadelphia Eagles | 2019-23 |
| Jourdan Lewis | CB | Dallas Cowboys | 2013-16 |
| David Long Jr. | CB | New York Giants | 2016-18 |
| Ben Mason | TE/FB | Los Angeles Chargers | 2017-20 |
| Jalen Mayfield | OG | New York Giants | 2018-20 |
| J.J. McCarthy# | QB | Minnesota Vikings | 2021-23 |
| Braiden McGregor | EDGE | New York Jets | 2020-23 |
| Cameron McGrone | LB | Indianapolis Colts | 2018-20 |
| Sean McKeon | TE | Detroit Lions | 2016-19 |
| Josh Metellus | S | Minnesota Vikings | 2016-19 |
| Joe Milton* | QB | New England Patriots | 2018-20 |
| Jake Moody | K | San Francisco 49ers | 2018-22 |
| Mike Morris | DE | Seattle Seahawks | 2019-22 |
| Drake Nugent | OL | San Francisco 49ers | 2023 |
| David Ojabo | OLB | Baltimore Ravens | 2019-21 |
| Olu Oluwatimi | C | Seattle Seahawks | 2022 |
| Mike Onwenu | OL | New England Patriots | 2016-19 |
| Kwity Paye | DE | Indianapolis Colts | 2017-20 |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | Detroit Lions | 2017-19 |
| Jabrill Peppers | S | New England Patriots | 2014-16 |
| Brad Robbins | P | Cincinnati Bengals | 2017-22 |
| Josh Ross | LB | Baltimore Ravens | 2017-21 |
| Cesar Ruiz | C/G | New Orleans Saints | 2017-19 |
| Jon Runyan | OG | New York Giants | 2016-19 |
| Mike Sainristil | CB | Washington Commanders | 2019-23 |
| Luke Schoonmaker | TE | Dallas Cowboys | 2018-22 |
| Mazi Smith | DT | Dallas Cowboys | 2019-22 |
| Andrew Stueber | OL | Atlanta Falcons | 2018-21 |
| Ambry Thomas | CB | San Francisco 49ers | 2017-19 |
| DJ Turner II | CB | Cincinnati Bengals | 2019-22 |
| Joshua Uche | LB | New England Patriots | 2016-19 |
| Ben VanSumeren* | LB | Philadelphia Eagles | 2018-20 |
| Luiji Vilain* | OLB | Carolina Panthers | 2017-20 |
| Josh Wallace | CB | Los Angeles Rams | 2023 |
| Julius Welschof* | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2018-22 |
| Roman Wilson | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2020-23 |
| Zak Zinter | OG | Cleveland Browns | 2020-23 |
*Finished college career at school other than Michigan
^Has been cut from team
#Has been placed on reserve/injured list
