Where are Gophers projected to go in NFL draft?

Gophers football might challenge its program record for amount of selections in the NFL draft this week.

Minnesota set the modern-day, seven-round record at five picks in 2020 when Antoine Winfield Jr., Tyler Johnson, Carter Coughlin, Kamal Martin and Chris Williamson heard their names called. This year, the Gophers’ top hopefuls include Aireontae Ersery, Jay Joyner, Justin Walley, Cody Lindenberg, Max Brosmer and Daniel Jackson.

In a bit of foreshadowing, Minnesota set a school record when that half dozen went to the NFL Scouting Combine this winter, although that isn’t a one-to-one comparison. The combine brought 329 players to Indianapolis and the draft only includes 257 picks this week in Green Bay.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck was asked last week how many picks he foresees for Minnesota.

“As many as we possibly can have, hopefully a record,” he said, “That would be great.”

The Gophers’ weight room inside the Larson Football Performance Center has banners along its second-story balcony commemorating its streak of first- and second-round picks: safety Winfield (Buccaneers, 2020); receiver Rashod Bateman (Ravens, 2021); defensive end Boye Mafe (Seattle, 2022); center John Michael Schmitz (Giants, 2023); and safety Tyler Nubin (Giants, 2024).

“We take a lot of pride in it,” Fleck said. “I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘All shucky darn, oh wow, yeah, it’s just kind of luck.’ We take a lot of pride in developing our players (into) what they dream of being.”

The Gophers don’t have a projected first-round pick for Thursday. Instead, they have a few players who could be taken in the second and third rounds on Friday, and more likely waiting until the fourth through seventh rounds, and ensuing free agency, on Saturday.

Here’s a big board of where Gophers are projected to go based on mock drafts from The Athletic and Pro Football Focus, along with NFL.com projections and their Relative Athletic Score (RAS) from the combine and Pro Day.

1. Aireontae Ersery, left tackle

The Athletic, 2nd round; PFF, 3rd round; NFL.com, 6.25 (eventual starter); RAS, 9.42 out of 10

The 2024 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year has the size (6-foot-6, 331 pounds) and athleticism (5.01-second 40-yard dash) to be a starting tackle in the NFL. The Kansas City, Mo., native is considered to be outside the upper crust of the position in this class.

2. Jay Joyner, defensive end

The Athletic, 5th round; PFF: 6th round, NFL.com: 5.97 (average backup or special teamer); RAS, 6.88

At 6-4, 262 pounds and with above-average testing, the Connecticut product will entice teams as an edge rusher. But his production at Minnesota dipped from a team-high 7½ sacks and 46 pressures in 2023 to 4½ sacks and 31 pressures in 2024.

3. Justin Walley, cornerback

The Athletic, 6th round; PFF, 4th round; NFL.com, 5.96 (average backup or special teamer); RAS, 5.97

Walley was plugged in as a starting cornerback as a true freshman and became Mr. Reliable. Fleck called Walley one of the best players he has ever coached. While far from the biggest at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, the Mississippian amassed 155 tackles and seven interceptions in his career.

4. Cody Lindenberg, linebacker

The Athletic, 5th-6th rounds; PFF, 7th round; NFL.com, 5.80 (average backup or special teamer); RAS, 8.16.

Overcame injuries in 2021 and 2023 to lead the Gophers with 94 total tackles and be named all-Big Ten first team last fall. A studious player who has five-time All-Pro Luke Kuechly as a mentor, the Anoka native has old-school size (6-2, 236) but the athleticism to play at the next level.

5. Max Brosmer, quarterback

The Athletic, 6-7th rounds; PFF, 7th round; NFL.com, 5.83 (average backup); RAS, not tracked.

The New Hampshire graduate transfer made a successful transition from FCS to the Big Ten, where he set the Gophers’ single-season completion record (268) last fall. He’s an intelligent player from Georgia who prepares at an exceptional level to overcome some limits and set up a backup role in the NFL.

6. Daniel Jackson, receiver

The Athletic, free agent; PFF, free agent; NFL.com, 5.85 (average backup or special teamer); RAS, 7.13.

The Kansas City, Mo., native developed into one of the most-productive receivers in Gophers history with 208 receptions, 2,685 yards and 19 touchdowns — all top six in school history. He projects into a fringe slot receiver in the NFL.

7. Jack Henderson, nickelback

The Athletic, free agent; PFF, free agent; NFL.com, N/A; RAS, 9.38.

The Southeastern Louisiana transfer’s RAS score ranked 78 out of 1,235 strong safeties from 1987 to 2025. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he is a versatile player who made a successful leap from FCS over two seasons, with 44 tackles and six sacks a year ago.

Cornerback Ethan Robinson, guard Tyler Cooper, defensive end Danny Striggow, guard Quinn Carroll, receiver Elijah Spencer, tight end Nick Kallerup, kicker Dragan Kesich, punter Mark Crawford and running backs Marcus Major and Jaren Mangham.

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