Does it feel like the NFL draft snuck up on us this year?
The 2025 event kick off Thursday night in Green Bay outside Lambeau Field, where some of college football’s best will find out where their landing spots.
Miami QB Cam Ward is the runaway favorite to go No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans, while Colorado’s star two-way player Travis Hunter appears headed to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to the New York Giants at 3.
Some are saying the draft really begins with the New England Patriots at No. 4.
As for Michigan, the Wolverines have 15 draft-eligible players available this year, a large amount for a team that only finished 8-5 in 2024. Several of them are high-level players that could hear their name called in the first or second round. Many of them also have Day 3 or undrafted free-agent grades, making it difficult to handicap how many actually get drafted this year.
We’ll do our best to come up with the right number in this year’s 2025 NFL Draft guide, Michigan edition.
Day 1
Round 1
Thursday, April 24, 2025
8 p.m. ET — ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL+
Michigan could see as many as four players drafted in the first round of this year’s draft. It it happens, it would set a new program record. The Wolverines have had three first-round picks twice, in 2001 and 1995, but never four.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (top 10) is expected to be the first player off the board, with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5 and New York Jets at No. 7 showing serious interest. Graham is listed at 6-3 1/2 and 296 pounds, making him one of the smaller tackles available, but his play at Michigan more than made up for any size discrepancy. Graham (45 tackles, 3.5 sacks) was part of a Wolverines run defense that was one of the best in the country, and his play held up against some of the best offenses in the country like Indiana and Ohio State. He weighed in a bit undersized at the NFL combine, causing some concern, but has reportedly added some weight since then. Most mock drafts have Graham going in the top 10, making it a safe bet that he hears his name called early on Thursday. Graham is planning to attend the NFL draft live.
Defensive back Will Johnson (top 15) shouldn’t be far behind. The 6-2, 194-pound corner had a high draft grade before the 2025 season, and despite injuries and only playing half the season, the Detroit native appears to have held his value. His long, rangy body and physical play style are attractive to NFL teams in desperate need for help on the outside. Johnson (14 tackles, 2 INT) has seen his stock drop some due to turf toe and a pulled hamstring, but most analysts believe he’ll be off the board in the first half of the first round. The San Francisco 49ers at No. 11 are a team to watch. Like Graham, Johnson is planning to attend the NFL draft live.
Tight end Colston Loveland is expected to be Michigan’s third pick of the first round. The No. 2-ranked tight end in this year’s class has all the physical traits NFL teams want at the position. Loveland is 6-6 and 248 pounds, has a huge catch radius and was highly productive during his three seasons at Michigan, where hauled in 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He missed three games last season and still led the Wolverines in receptions, receiving yards and TDs. Underwood was under recruited out of Gooding, Idaho, and developed quickly at Michigan.
Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (fringe) is the real question mark for Michigan on Thursday. The 6-4, 341-pounder has shown up in mock drafts late in the first round, but it may depend on what happens at other positions. An early run on quarterbacks may push him back to the second. Grant played alongside Graham at Michigan the past two seasons, frustrating opposing offensive lines with their size and agility. Graham may look like a nose tackle but he doesn’t play like one, evident by his 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Day 2
Rounds 2-3
Friday, April 25, 2025
7 p.m. ET — ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL+
Depending on what happens with Grant, we’re expecting as many as two Michigan players to go on Day 2. As mentioned above, the Wolverines were a top-heavy team last season, illustrated by the number of potential first-round picks.
If DT Kenneth Grant doesn’t hear his name called on Thursday, he most definitely will on Friday. The 6-4, 341-pound tackle would immediately become a priority in Round 2 and the first Michigan player to hear his name called. Grant benched 27 reps of 225 pounds at pro day, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.07 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 31 inches.
Edge rusher Josaiah Stewart will be someone to watch on Day 2. At 6-1 and 249 pounds, Stewart is a bit undersized at the position. That could limit the pool of interested teams. But he was highly productive during his two seasons at Michigan and two seasons at Coastal Carolina. He plays above his weight class, leaning on his leverage and speed to get to the quarterback. Stewart (13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks) is considered a pass-rushing specialist, making him an ideal fit for a team in need of one or a team that runs a 3-4 front. He may not get called in Round 2, but Round 3 is a distinct possibility for the Bronx, N.Y. We fully believe he’ll be the fifth Michigan player drafted this weekend.
Day 3
Rounds 4-7
Saturday, April 26, 2025
12 p.m. ET — ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL+
The draft concludes with the marathon final four rounds on Saturday, where we expect eight Michigan players to still be available. How many of them actually get drafted is unclear. Don’t expect U-M to tie its program record 13 players drafted in 2024, but it could get close.
Available players, in alphabetical order:
Running back Donovan Edwards is a wild card given his highlight-reel performances and dual-threat ability. Edwards had some big moments in some big games against high-level competition, which should work in his favor with NFL teams, and has a knack for catching the ball out of the backfield. But his position hasn’t been coveted in recent drafts and he was far too inconsistent during his four seasons at Michigan. We expect the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Edwards to hear his name called on Day 3, but the range of outcomes is wide.
Defensive back Aamir Hall appears to be a longshot to get drafted. The former FCS star only played one season at Michigan and didn’t start every game, limiting his tape and opportunities. But when he did get in there, he played well — recording an interception against Ohio State and a sack and forced fumble against Alabama. If he does go, it’ll likely be late.
Defensive back Keshaun Harris was largely a special teams player during his time at Michigan, though he did start three games at cornerback. If he gets a shot at the NFL, it’ll be as an undrafted free agent.
Offensive tackle Myles Hinton has everything working in his favor this weekend. Above-average tackle during his time at Stanford and Michigan, where he started 14 games at tackle. His long 6-6, 342-pound frame should give him an advantage in the NFL. And he as a dad (Chris) and older brother (Christopher) who both have played in the NFL. Don’t be surprised if Hinton is one of the first Michigan players off the board on Saturday.
Do-it-all defensive back Quinten Johnson spent six years at Michigan, where he witnessed a program resurrect into a national power. He played special teams and safety, appearing in 58 games while starting 12. He’s a smart player with average speed and a below-average frame (5-11, 203 pounds) who didn’t get an NFL combine invite, which could work against him. We forecast him as a special teams player who could go late-Day 3 or signed as a free agent.
Running back Kalel Mullings has an intriguing story, a former linebacker who transitioned to short-yardage back and Michigan’s most reliable ball carrier in 2024. At 6-1 1/2 and 226 pounds, Mullings is an intriguing player at the next level. He isn’t the fastest (he didn’t run a 40) but has enough wiggle and power to break tackles. His production last season (948 rushing yards, 12 TDs) should make him a Day 3 pick.
Defensive back Makari Paige might be one of the biggest mysteries of Michigan’s draft-eligible players. Paige was highly productive during his time at Michigan, appearing in 53 games at safety while making 32 starts, yet doesn’t pop as a draft prospect. He didn’t receiver an invite to the NFL combine after his best season to date, one that saw Paige lead Michigan’s defensive backs in tackles (45), account for six pass breakups and two interceptions. He was called into duty this year to play more inside-slot, which should help expand his repertoire at the next level. We think mid-to-late Day 3 for Paige.
Offensive guard Josh Priebe was Michigan’s second-best offensive lineman in 2024, but that wasn’t enough to earn an NFL combine invite. His 6-5, 305-pound frame makes him undersized to play guard, which could push him to the outside at the next level and impact his draft stock. Priebe has a Day 3 grade.
Longsnapper Will Wagner is a the mercy of NFL teams desperate for players at the position. And unfortunately for him, it may not be many. Look for Wagner to get picked up as a free agent.
Defensive back Wesley Walker made five starts at Michigan, where he recorded a tackle for loss and two pass breakups. Walker has 30 starts under his belt, with 25 coming at Tennessee and Georgia Tech, making him an intriguing option as a late-draft safety. He’s another player who could hear his name called in the late rounds or get picked up as a priority free agent.
How many Michigan players wind up drafted?
Most years you can typically get within a pick or two when it comes to Michigan players. This year has proven to be more difficult given the volume of Day 3 guys. There are five definite’s in Mason Graham, Will Johnson, Colston Loveland, Kenneth Grant and Josaiah Stewart. We feel that both running backs, Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, will hear their name called, along with offensive tackle Myles Hinton. That’s eight. Quinten Johnson, Makari Paige and Josh Priebe all have a chance as well. We’ll split it down the middle and add an extra 0.5 to our final number to account for a surprise, putting our final number at 10.
It wasn’t a great year by any stretch, but Michigan has enough high-end talent in this year’s draft, college football vets and a defensive coordinator in Wink Martindale with plenty of NFL connections to help out.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
