Where Michigan football players went in 7-round pre-combine draft simulation

The Michigan Wolverines are sending a record 18 players to this week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis, headlined by quarterback J.J. McCarthy and a roster full of key players from the team’s national championship run.

The 2024 NFL Draft is still a little under two months away, but this week is huge for getting a feel for where the league is at on several guys. Here is a look at where the Michigan prospects went in our latest simulation using Pro Football Focus’ updated mock draft machine.

11. Minnesota Vikings – QB J.J. McCarthy

Barring a complete and utter self-implosion at the combine, it seems like McCarthy has a legitimate chance to be a top-10 selection in a deep quarterback class. USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels are considered the consensus top three in the class, but McCarthy’s interviews and on-field workouts might solidify him near the top of the draft.

52. Pittsburgh Steelers – DB Mike Sainristil

Of all the Michigan players on this list, Sainristil feels like the one with the best chance of rising as scouts catch up to his 2023 tape. He simply makes plays whenever the situation demands it and has been a natural at the nickel spot since making the switch before last season.

53. Miami Dolphins – WR Roman Wilson

The star wide receiver could have run it back for one more season in Ann Arbor but elected to cash out and see what the NFL had to offer. Some scouts have compared him to Stefon Diggs coming out of Maryland, and if this selection paid off like that the team that selects him would be over the moon.

55. Cleveland Browns – DL Kris Jenkins

While the stats are not eye-popping, many NFL evaluators love his versatility and athleticism, in addition to how he sets the table for others.

66. Arizona Cardinals – LB Junior Colson

Colson is a well-rounded, high-floor defender who passed on a senior season in Ann Arbor to take his talents to the NFL. He has a shot to sneak into the second round of the draft.

88. Green Bay Packers – RB Blake Corum

Corum can be a day-two selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. There were no workload concerns this year, and Michigan did a great job keeping him fresh coming off offseason knee surgery. Jumping onto a playoff team with one of the best sets of young skill players in the league would be a great fit.

122. Denver Broncos – WR Cornelius Johnson

PFF loves Johnson all of the sudden, who makes his first appearance in this piece as a mid-round prospect at wide receiver. His production was inconsistent at Michigan, but there might be some untapped potential here for a guy that spent five years in Ann Arbor.

150. Indianapolis Colts – OL Zak Zinter

Zinter’s broken leg probably will not kill his draft stock as much as this simulation suggested it might, but recovery will certainly impact the process a bit. Before his injury, Zinter was considered a potential first/second-round prospect. We will have to wait and see if he can reclaim some of that.

151. Seattle Seahawks – LB Michael Barrett

After six years, Barrett has finally exhausted his eligibility and feels like a lock to be a stalwart on someone’s special teams unit in the NFL. In an increasingly positionless NFL, he could certainly find a role as a subpackage defender under former Michigan DC Mike Macdonald, now the head coach with the Seahawks.

164. Baltimore Ravens – EDGE Braiden McGregor

Since we’ve started running these PFF simulations, this is the second time McGregor’s name has appeared for the Ravens. There may still be some potential to unlock here, which could make him a worthy day-three look for NFL teams looking to add depth and competition to the pass rush.

173. Dallas Cowboys – C Drake Nugent

While not quite as dominant as Olu Oluwatimi was, Nugent came into Michigan ready to roll and fortified the interior of the offensive line. He should have a chance to be drafted in the same range as his predecessor.

180. Carolina Panthers – TE AJ Barner

Barner might be one of the most underrated players on the Michigan roster and a reliable piece to the offense. Mid-round consideration is warranted for a guy who came in and showed off a well-rounded skill-set in a tight end-heavy offensive system.

186. Miami Dolphins – OL Ladarius Henderson

Henderson took some time to get going this season but saved some of his best football for last and solidified the left side of the offensive line. He could have been competing for a pro spot last year but decided to come to Michigan and win a national title.

194. Seattle Seahawks – G Trevor Keegan

Like many of Michigan’s offensive linemen, he has a well-rounded skill set and should be a longtime NFL player. Nobody should rule him out as a potential locker room favorite wherever he winds up.

200. New Orleans Saints – EDGE Jaylen Harrell

Harrell might not have the same pass-rush upside as some of his peers in the class if he decides to forgo a final season in Ann Arbor, but he has a full toolkit and does a lot of things well. We think he has a shot to rise, too.

214. San Francisco 49ers – CB Josh Wallace

Michigan brought Wallace in to compete for the No. 2 cornerback job last year and not only did he win the job, but was one of the team’s unsung heroes.

220. Washington Commanders – OL Trente Jones

Jones was one of Michigan’s secret weapons on the offensive line as an athletic extra lineman who eventually filled in at right tackle down the stretch. His Rose Bowl tape caught the attention of a lot of scouts for the work he did against a talented Alabama pass rush.