Michigan did not have the kind of season it was hoping for in 2024, finishing 8-5 overall while failing to defend its national title.
However, the season still produced some high moments in Sherrone Moore’s first season as head coach of the program. The Wolverines upset Ohio State for a 4th straight win in The Game and went on to beat Alabama — without most of the NFL-bound contingent for Michigan — in a ReliaQuest Bowl win.
Along with the highlights, Michigan’s roster contained some key pieces left from the 2023 national championship team. And now, those pieces could combine for a historic 2025 NFL Draft performance.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. dropped his first edition of a 2025 NFL Mock Draft. That projection includes 9 Big Ten stars, including stalwart defensive tackle Mason Graham checking in at No. 5 overall.
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Graham was just the first of 4 Michigan players Kiper has slotted as first-round picks, and that’s a significant number. The Wolverines have not produced more than 2 first-round picks since 2001, and the program has never produced 4 first-round picks in their history. Michigan had 2 instances of 3 first-round picks in 2001 and 1995.
Along with Graham, Kiper also has cornerback Will Johnson as a projected top-10 pick. Tight end Colston Loveland is mocked to re-join head coach Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, and DT Kenneth Grant also makes the first-round cut.
Here is where Kiper has those 4 players from Michigan projected in the first round:
- No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars — Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- No. 9 New Orleans Saints — Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- No. 22 Los Angeles Chargers — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- No. 32 Philadelphia Eagles — Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The NFL Draft projections will shift as we move throughout the pre-draft process, but Michigan could do something special when April rolls around.
