Three Michigan football players are top-10 picks in latest mock draft
Michigan Wolverines football is ranked No. 10 in both major polls and chasing their fourth consecutive Big Ten championship, with high-end talent on the roster. The junior class has multiple elite NFL Draft prospects, including three who were listed as top-10 picks in PFF analyst Trevor Sikkema’s latest mock draft.
Sikkema has defensive tackle Mason Graham No. 4 to the Cincinnati Bengals, cornerback Will Johnson No. 8 to the Los Angeles Rams and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant No. 9 to the Arizona Cardinals. Just outside the top 10 is Michigan junior tight end Colston Loveland at No. 11 to the Indianapolis Colts.
The only three players ahead of Graham are Colorado wide receiver / cornerback Travis Hunter (No. 1 to Jacksonville), Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (No. 2 to Miami) and LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell (No. 3 to the New England Patriots). Graham is the first defense-only player off the board.
“The Bengals sorely miss defensive tackle D.J. Reader in the middle of their line,” Sikkema wrote. “In fact, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is the only defensive lineman consistently grading positively this season. Graham has shorter arms, which can lead to missed tackles, but his power and explosive first step make him a three-down lineman Cincinnati would love to have.”
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Johnson was the second cornerback off the board in Sikkema’s mock, but he’s only behind a two-way player in Colorado’s, Hunter who plays both in the defensive backfield and wide receiver. Johnson is off to a fantastic start to the season with 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns in four games.
“The Rams need a dominant CB1 to anchor their secondary, a role they’ve been missing since Jalen Ramsey’s departure,” Sikkema wrote. “Johnson fits that mold, as he has earned an 82.2 coverage grade this season. He has rare mirror movement skills and has already recorded two pick-sixes in five games.”
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Grant is the second defensive tackle taken in Sikkema’s projection, behind only his Michigan teammate, Graham.
“The Cardinals have made solid moves with their recent rookie classes, allowing the draft to fall to them comfortably during their multi-year rebuild,” Sikkema wrote. “However, they have yet to address their need for an impactful interior defensive lineman, which has become glaring in 2024. The 335-pound Grant moves incredibly well for his size and has earned run defense grades above 70.0 in each of the last three seasons.”
Loveland is Michigan’s leading receiver despite missing one game with an injury, hauling in 23 receptions for 228 yards and a touchdown. He had 45 grabs for 649 yards and 4 scores a year ago.
“The Colts have a solid group of pass-catchers in Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr. and Adonai Mitchell, but their tight end room lacks a true NFL-caliber presence,” Sikkema wrote. “Loveland isn’t just the best option available — he’s a first-round talent.”
