NFL draft talk is really starting to heat up. The NFL Draft Combine starts on Monday and goes through March 4. Michigan football will have a staggering 18 players that will compete at the Combine — or at least that got an invite.
Before the 2023 season took place, Jim Harbaugh predicted Michigan could break the record for having the most draft picks by a single team in the draft, and it’s beginning to look like that might be true — Georgia has the record with 15 selections in a single draft.
While the Wolverines might have potentially 18 players or more drafted in the ’24 draft, Michigan isn’t getting many players being mocked to go in the first round of the draft. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been getting more love in recent weeks, but according to the latest CBS Sports NFL mock draft — Michigan might have two players go in round one.
At No. 9 J.J. McCarthy goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who in this mock draft, trades up to get the Michigan QB. The Steelers aren’t sold on Kenny Pickett and with a new OC in Pittsburgh, it might be time for the Steelers to look in a different direction.
The Steelers realize Kenny Pickett isn’t the answer and don’t waste time trying to correct the situation. Arthur Smith is likely to bring a run-heavy offense that relies on play action and tight ends, and that sounds a lot like the offense McCarthy ran at Michigan! McCarthy has a strong arm, diagnoses defenses quickly, and is a good enough athlete to regularly extend drives with his legs. He’d be a good fit here.
Toward the end of the first round, the Detroit Lions look to Ann Arbor to address their cornerback need. With the No. 29 pick the Lions select Mike Sainristil. This is the first time Sainristil has seen his name go in the first round by CBS Sports — that I’ve seen.
Watch Sainristil’s tape and tell me he isn’t the kind of player Dan Campbell and the Lions front office will love. The Lions need to add more talent to their secondary, and Sainristil showcases great ball skills and route recognition. He’s also going 110% all the time and has a fiery, competitive demeanor.
