Four Michigan stars selected in two-round mock draft from ESPN
The Michigan Wolverines left the 2023 season as College Football Playoff National Champions, and for key members of the team that means the start of a new chapter. Prep for the 2024 NFL Draft is fully underway, and a new mock from Matt Miller of ESPN has four Wolverine stars in the first two rounds.
The list is headlined by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who Miller has off the board at No. 13 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. He was 27-1 as a starter at Michigan and threw for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season for the Maize and Blue.
“The Raiders have a new general manager in Tom Telesco and must make finding a long-term quarterback the priority of the 2024 offseason (free agent signing Jimmy Garoppolo has not worked out),” Miller wrote. “McCarthy, who started two years at Michigan, just turned 21 and has the requisite tools to be that player. He’s mobile and tough as nails, and scouts praise his arm strength and ability to make difficult throws in big situations. He has thrown only 44 touchdown passes in college to nine interceptions and compared to the other top quarterbacks in this class, he’s by far the least-experienced thrower. But his potential and ceiling have him worthy of a top-15 selection.”
Kicking off a run in the second round, Miller has the New York Giants selecting Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins at No. 47 overall. Jenkins is a two-time All-Big Ten selection (second team, coaches, 2023; third team, media, 2023; honorable mention, coaches and media, 2022) and appeared in 44 career games in Ann Arbor with 32 starts along the defensive line.
“Trading Leonard Williams to the Seahawks landed the Giants this pick but also left a need for an interior penetrator next to nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II,” Miller wrote. “Jenkins moved all over the Michigan defensive line and ended up playing more 5-technique in 2023, but his flashes of burst and power have me thinking his best football is still coming, once he’s able to shoot gaps and make plays in the backfield. Despite not being freed up to attack as a pass-rusher, Jenkins still finished with 16 pressures and 2.5 sacks in 2023.”
Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson was the third player from Ann Arbor off the board in his mock, which comes on the heels of his stock rising at last week’s Senior Bown in Mobile, Alabama. Wilson, who had 47 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, was selected No. 48 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“If the Jaguars re-sign Calvin Ridley to a new contract this offseason, this pick goes to the Falcons,” Miller said. “But for now, we’re keeping it in Jacksonville and using it on a wide receiver to help quarterback Trevor Lawrence on the outside. Wilson had a fantastic Senior Bowl week and showcased his top-tier agility and hands. In a Michigan offense that didn’t throw the ball a ton, Wilson had 48 catches in 2023 but scored 12 touchdowns with those opportunities. His toughness and quickness would fit in the Jaguars’ offense perfectly.”
Rounding out the foursome for Michigan was linebacker Junior Colson, selected 53rd by the Philadelphia Eagles.
“If you watched the Eagles’ collapse late this season, the lack of talent and depth at linebacker was a key issue. Colson is the best run-defending linebacker in the class but also has excellent range to make plays outside the tackle box. He had 101 tackles manning the middle of the field for Michigan and has a game very similar to the Chiefs’ Nick Bolton. In Philly, he could be a rookie starter and cornerstone defensive player.”
The 2024 NFL Draft is just down the road from Ann Arbor in Detroit, Michigan. The event kicks off on April 23 with the first round, the second and third rounds on April 24 and the fourth through seventh rounds on April 25.
