Will 2024 be a record year for football players drafted?
So in 1972 and 2017 we had 11 players drafted by the NFL. With all the players coming back next year here's the players I think have a solid chance of getting drafted next year. Some of these guys may not declare but it looks like we're pretty loaded this fall.
- McCarthy
- Corum
- Edwards
- Wilson
- Johnson
- Henderson
- Zinter
- Keegan
- Nugent
- Jenkins
- Stewart
- Colson
- Barrett
- Sainristil
- Moore
That's 15 guys that I feel pretty good about if they end up in the draft and that's not counting the winner of the RT battle, whoever gets the CB slot, and maybe a surprise on the defensive line. Did I miss anyone? Is it reasonable to think we could really get 15 guys drafted in one year?
January 17th, 2023 at 7:12 PM ^
Who are the potential 1st rounders in that bunch?
Maybe Zinter?
January 17th, 2023 at 7:14 PM ^
Potentially Donovan Edwards (I've heard some comparisons to Alvin Kamara) and then there was some talk that La'Darius Henderson could have been a 1st rounder.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:33 PM ^
Edwards gives me more Saquon Barkley vibes than Kamara.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:44 PM ^
Saquon wouldn't have been caught on the first play against TCU.
January 17th, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
Dude. He was running holding the ball with a cast in his left hand.
January 18th, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
The Don got walked down because Bell did a terrible job blocking out wide.Poor effort
January 18th, 2023 at 7:57 AM ^
Maybe if Edwards adds about 15-20 pounds of muscle in his thighs...
January 18th, 2023 at 1:37 PM ^
Edwards seems like such a fun toy for those guys at Kansas City to play with. A better version of Edwards-Helaire.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:16 PM ^
Zinter, The Don, and Henderson are the only ones that jump off. Jenkins maybe if he has a huge year (he was top 100). Most of these guys are day 2-3 picks, but still amazing to have like CJ, Sainristil, Keegan, etc.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:17 PM ^
Plus JJ, Edwards and Jenkins- not saying probable but definitely potential
JJ and Edwards are former 5 star skill players poised for potential breakout years and Jenkins already has a top 100 grade that could blow up with consistent interior pass rush
January 17th, 2023 at 8:25 PM ^
If JJ has a breakout yr he will be way high up the board. If he packs on maybe 10-15lbs he will be the prototype NFL teams are salivating over these days.
January 18th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
Just went to look at 24 ratings - didn't realize JJ was so svelte compared to his peer group. Most of these guys are 210-225.
Kyler Murray all 5'10 of him is 15-20 lbs more.
JJ gotta start eating.
January 18th, 2023 at 6:21 AM ^
To quote our coach: "Nobody knows the future."
January 17th, 2023 at 7:15 PM ^
Just wait until Valiant starts up the Two More Years fund.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:15 PM ^
The draft took a much greater toll in 1943 though Michigan finished 8-1.
https://bentley.umich.edu/news-events/news/wartime-football/
January 17th, 2023 at 7:16 PM ^
Crazy thing to me is this - in 2022, we lost 3 first-round-talents on D, our center, and Hassan Haskins (as well as an OT and not-NFL CB). In 2023, we lose 3 2nd-round-talents on D, our 2nd-rounder center, Ronnie Bell, an OT, and another CB who's probably a 3rd day pick.
What a time to be alive. I think 2024's NFL draft will feature a ton of Wolverines, and yes I think it's reasonable to see that many draftees. Unfortunately that means Davis Warren and a 5* freshman will be battling it out to lead a "rebuilding year" team. But that's totally worth it.
January 17th, 2023 at 11:44 PM ^
Unfortunately that means Davis Warren and a 5* freshman will be battling it out to lead a "rebuilding year" team.
Doubtful U-M would go into the season with those as the sole options.
OSU has two unknowns at QB this fall, but both were big recruits, and both will have had at least a year and a half on campus (Brown and McCord were both early enrollees). A true FR and an untested former walk-on is a different story.
The only way that duo seems reasonable is if Warren isn’t untested—i.e., if McCarthy gets hurt this fall and Warren shows out in his absence. Otherwise, you need to hit the portal—at the very least for a credible competitor but preferably for a Notre Dame/Sam Hartman-type QB1 rental.
January 18th, 2023 at 8:12 AM ^
Davis Warren assuages all my fears in regards to the QB room.
Sure, there is always a chance of regression in 2024. I believe the chance of a very pleasant surprise are much greater than there being a significant regression. The OL and DL will be top five in the country-which sets a very nice floor...and these guys win you a lot of games.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
It's oversaid but underappreciated - football is won in the trenches. Even those who say it and believe it go ga-ga when a Randy Moss, Marshawn Lynch or a Patrick Mahomes goes off. And no doubt, the best offensive ball handler is typically the most important guy on your offense, and the quarterback is typically the most important player on your team. But the 5 OL are more important as a group to the success of a play, drive, or gameplan than the 6 guys who touch the ball. (On defense, the front 7 get the love they deserve).
January 18th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
Now do Georgia's 22 and 23 drafts...
Also which 5* freshman QB do we have again?
January 18th, 2023 at 7:19 PM ^
A) Last year, UGA had 5 defensive players in the first round of the draft, and two more LBs in the 3rd round (including unanimous all-american, Nakobe Dean). They also had a couple of ball-handlers taken in the 2nd round. I'm not familiar enough with their team to predict who they're losing to the draft this year, only to note that 1) I think they were better last year and 2) they lose their QB this year.
EDIT: Looked at Kiper's big board, they have 3 first rounders (one is an OT, other 2 on D), and also lose their QB, RB, their not Brock Bowers TE, their center, an edge, and a safety. So, at least in the draft, they're losing more than us, and weren't as good as last year's UGA but were about as good as last year's M (but again - we lose less to the draft this year but were a better squad)
B) I want to catch them, and want to win the natty. I absolutely love that we are now comparing ourselves to them. It's a first step.
C) Yea we have some stuff to worry about for 2024...let's see how it shakes out
January 17th, 2023 at 7:20 PM ^
Out of this list who leaves at the end of 2023:
- McCarthy- 50/50
- Corum-Yes
- Edwards-Yes
- Wilson- No
- Johnson-Yes
- Henderson-Yes
- Zinter-Yes
- Keegan-Yes
- Nugent-No
- Jenkins-Yes
- Stewart-No
- Colson-50/50
- Barrett-Yes
- Sainristil-Yes
- Moore-No
So while we lost a ton, I can see some guys with a lack of great film or who are rotating with other key figures (Nugent, Stewart, Colson, Moore) may come back either to put more film on, lack that elite athleticism to be day 2 pick, or NIL will entice them to stay. I see the Don leaving, and JJ may be 50/50 stay or go depending on how the season goes.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:26 PM ^
Citing players who are out of eligibility kinda defeats the purpose of the discussion -- who may or may not be back?
The context of that is who is going to declare?
Sainristil, for example, is obviously gone -- he won't be declaring for the draft, because 2023 is his final year.
January 18th, 2023 at 8:23 AM ^
JJ is more likely than 50/50 to be gone-and we should all be hoping for this. I see him as a top five pick-perhaps #1. The NFL is salivating over the talent this young man holds.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
#1 over Drake Maye or Caleb Williams?
Wows.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:27 PM ^
I think JJ needs to put on another 15-20lbs of muscle before the NFL. So, 10 next year, 10 the year after and... voila!
January 17th, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
Will Johnson won't be eligible next year.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:52 PM ^
He means Cornelius
January 17th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
Wow, we will potentially lose a LOT of talent next year.
Need to reload
January 18th, 2023 at 2:15 PM ^
It's gotta be a huge transfer portal year next winter. We are not going to have freshmen running all over the place. But yes it is all about 23 at this time - get OSU at home, veteran laden team.
24 we are going to be young and portaly.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:15 PM ^
What’s crazy is that almost all of next year’s projected OL (in addition to JJ and the RBs) all have at least two year’s remaining. Hopefully we’ve started saving up for next year’s One More Year Fun already.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^
I have a gut feeling that JJ won't be leaving after next year. I think he loves being a Michigan QB too much and he even said last year that he was going to stay all 4 years.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:26 PM ^
I am unsure if 2024 will be a record year for draft picks but I am sure I like that list of names and am thrilled they will be playing on our 2023 squad.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
It depends if JJ, Colson and Moore leave. If they do, I see 12 automatic draft picks:
McCarthy, Corum, Edwards, Wilson, Johnson, Henderson, Zinter, Keegan, Jenkins, Colson, Sainristil, Moore.
McCarthy, Edwards, Zinter, Jenkins and Moore would all possibly be top 60 picks.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:04 AM ^
I'll admit, I'm nervous to see that list. Fees like the team will be decimated. Of course there will be young guys coming up by then, but that is excessive. I think Harbaugh will be on that list, despite his buyout.
January 18th, 2023 at 9:31 AM ^
This is a good list to keep an eye on. It will be interesting to see how NIL evolves and whether you'll have some number of guys who would be drafted decide to stay next year.
The NFL draft was 17 rounds in 1972 (26 teams, 442 picks), so it's not really comparable to the modern draft (32 teams, 7 rounds, 224 picks). From a quick scan, it looks like 7 U-M players were drafted in the first 7 rounds in 1972.
January 18th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
Jesus our 2024 offense is going to be so portal. Might only be returning a TE and 2 starting OL.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:09 PM ^
Bryce Young is smaller than JJ. Quarterbacks are often drafted higher than other positions.
Ewers and Caleb Williams are the top QB's on the board and likely to go top 5. After that there are a tier of 5 or 6 guys that include McCarthy. He has a good arm, great legs, is creative and throws well out of the pocket. Some scouting reports suggest he has inconsistent mechanics though. That is a flag because it is hard to correct.
He won't usurp Williams or Ewers but with a good year he should move up in that middle pack.
NFL Draft Buzz has Corum ranked 4th and Edwards ranked 12th.
Draft Countdown has Edwards as a 2nd round pick. The highest rated Michigan player.
It's just too early but the NFL prioritizes physical measurables over college production. While we may get a lot of guys drafted there might not be many in the first 2 days.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:17 PM ^
Drake Maye sir. Looks like the best prospect of 21, 22, and 23. He would be QB1 this year if he was eligible to come out.
January 18th, 2023 at 7:21 PM ^
May be good for JJ to wait a year as ‘24 will be a super loaded class.