Michigan football had 13 players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft and one of those players was defensive leader, Mike Sainristil. The wide receiver turned cornerback became a second-round draft selection to the Washington Commanders where he projects to potentially start in 2024.

ESPN had a panel of writers choose who their favorite pick was during the ’24 draft and analyst Matt Bowen picked Sainrstil going to the Commanders at pick No. 50.

Cornerback Mike Sainristil to the Washington Commanders at No. 50. A nickel corner with a playmaking mentality, Sainristil was one of my favorite defensive backs to study. He led Michigan’s defense last season with six interceptions and seven pass breakups. Look for him to play a disruptive role as a rookie in Dan Quinn’s defensive system.

Sainristil, a former three-star recruit out of Massachusetts, came to Michigan back in 2019 where he began his career as a wide receiver. He played at WR until the 2022 campaign when Jim Harbaugh and Co. moved him over to defensive back and he played nickel.

In two seasons, starring in the secondary, Sainristil had 102 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, four sacks, and seven interceptions — six of which came in 2023. He was a two-time All-Big Ten member and an All-American in 2023 for the Wolverines.

While he only played two seasons on the defensive side of the ball, Michigan could always count on Sainristil for a timely play. Either he would make a crucial tackle or get Michigan the ball back when it needed it — he was always around the football.

Headed to Washington, Sainristil’s NFL career is beginning, but Michigan fans will always remember the impact he made for the Wolverines — a Michigan man.