Michigan football: 7-round mock draft sim following NFL Combine

Michigan football retained much of its critical pieces from the 2022 team to return for one more year, but it still projects to be a heavily-represented batch of players in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The NFL Combine is in the books with the Wolverines sending 9 players to the annual scouting event in Indianapolis.

RELATED:

• How Michigan offensive linemen Ryan Hayes, Olusegun Oluwatimi performed at the NFL Combine

• Luke Schoonmaker, Ronnie Bell put together strong NFL Combine days

• DJ Turner makes history in 40-yard dash, more NFL Combine results

With that in mind, here is a look at where the Michigan prospects went in our first simulation using The Draft Network‘s updated mock draft machine.

Cornerback DJ Turner (No. 45 overall, Atlanta Falcons)

DJ Turner may have improved his stock the most of anyone at the combine. The former Michigan corner ran a 4.26 40-yard dash, tied for the 4th best in the history of the event and tops in this year’s running. Teams love his prowess in coverage and now have a few more data points to suggest he could be one of the best available players in the cornerback class. There are still questions about his tackling and ability to create turnovers, but we should keep an eye on him starting to pop up more in first round mocks over the next 7 weeks.

Defensive tackle Mazi Smith (No. 64 overall, Kansas City Chiefs)

Everyone was ready to grab their popcorn to see what Mazi Smith would do at the combine. Ultimately, the former Bruce Feldman Freaks List headliner opted out of most events while rehabbing a hamstring injury. Smith participated in the bench press and led all players at the combine with 34 reps of 225 pounds. The next closest player was EDGE Lonnie Phelps out of Kansas with 31 reps. Smith instead plans to show off his skillset at Michigan’s Pro Day on March 17. The combine did feel like a missed opportunity for him, especially without doing a podium session with the media. His meetings and pro day performance will ultimately decide if he winds up in the conversation with Turner as a potential first rounder.

Center Olu Oluwatimi (No. 114 overall, Atlanta Falcons)

The Rimington and Outland Award winner did not light not the combine with his testing numbers, but it does not seem like his draft stock will be affected much by it. Coming into the event, Olu Oluwatimi was seen as a day three prospect that has plug-and-play potential. Despite his college accolades and experience, his standing is not all that unexpected by the draft gurus.

“Part of that is just, we have a pretty good interior group,” Jeremiah said Sunday. “We have four, five plug-and-play guys as centers this year. So just the sheer numbers of it, when you look at historically, only a handful usually get drafted. So I think that’s what’s pushing these guys out a little bit.”

Offensive tackle Ryan Hayes (No. 144 overall, Las Vegas Raiders)

Ryan Hayes‘ status as an NFL prospect is very similar to how people talked about Andrew Stueber last offseason. Hayes does a lot of things well but does not have one trait that stands out to hang his hat on. He is a superior athlete to Stueber, but arm length has NFL scouts thinking that a move inside to guard could be possible. Another concern listed is his ability to hold up against power rushers.

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker (No. 145 overall, Cleveland Browns)

If not for Turner’s blistering 40-yard dash, Luke Schoonmaker might be the story of the NFL Combine for the Wolverines. He ran an official 4.63 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5, 251 pounds. His 10-yard split came in at 1.57 seconds and he ran the shuttle drill in 4.27 seconds. Schoonmaker’s athletic testing was rounded out by a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches and a vertical jump of 33.5 inches. There are still questions about his blocking ability and lack of consistent production at Michigan, but his performance in Indianapolis has a lot of scouts going back and revisiting his film. He has solidified himself as one of the top sleepers at tight end in a potentially historically talented year at the position.

EDGE Mike Morris (No. 154 overall, Seattle Seahawks)

Mike Morris shaved 17 pounds off of his 6-6, 292 playing weight during the 2022 season in hopes to improve his athletic testing numbers. Unfortunately, the NFL Combine performance was not what he had hoped for. He ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash (20th out of 21 defensive ends), with a 1.72-second 10-yard split (19th of 21). His 28.5″ vertical jump was 28th of 31 players at his position, and his 9’2″ broad jump slotted 29th out of the same amount. NFL teams will likely get a player that holds down the fort in a defensive line rotation, but his svelte appearance in Indy does not look like it will get him drafted before day three.

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell (No. 173 overall, Los Angeles Rams)

Ronnie Bell put in a solid day’s work at the office, running his 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.52 seconds. He went through the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.98 seconds and completed his 20-yard shuttle in 4.15 seconds. Bell recorded a 10-foot broad jump at hit 38.5 inches on his vertical jump. Bell looks like a solid day-three receiver that could provide special teams value as a returner.