With Senior Bowl week over, NFL mock drafts are being revisited and revised. And while J.J. McCarthy remains a
A first-round prospect; a few of his Michigan teammates might follow soon after.
Three Wolverines are selected as second-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft by ESPN’s Matt Miller, whose most recent two-round mock draft was released on Monday.
• Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins leads the second-round group and is selected by the New York Giants with pick No. 47. The Giants acquired the pick from the Seattle Seahawks in a transaction that also sent defensive end Leonard Williams to the Pacific Northwest. Jenkins might therefore be a desirable selection choice for the Giants.
“Jenkins moved all over the Michigan defensive line and ended up playing more 5-technique in 2023, but his flashes of burst and power have me thinking his best football is still coming once he’s able to shoot gaps and make plays in the backfield,” Miller writes.
• Right behind Jenkins, to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 48, is Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson. He was a big winner in Senior Bowl practices last week in Mobile, flashing his speed and sure hands to NFL scouts and personnel. Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy told MLive that Wilson solidified his standing as a Day-2, top-100 prospect.
“In a Michigan offense that didn’t throw the ball a ton, Wilson had 48 catches in 2023 but scored 12 touchdowns with those opportunities,” Miller writes. “His toughness and quickness would fit in the Jaguars’ offense perfectly.”
• Lastly, at No. 53 to the Philadelphia Eagles, is linebacker Junior Colson. Colson has been rather quiet since Michigan won a national championship, likely healing up after playing most of the season injured (again). But his upside is tremendous and he brings a wealth of experience to the NFL level, making him a sure-fire Day-2 pick.
“Colson is the best run-defending linebacker in the class but also has excellent range to make plays outside the tackle box,” Miller writes. “He had 101 tackles manning the middle of the field for Michigan and has a game very similar to the Chiefs’ Nick Bolton. In Philly, he could be a rookie starter and cornerstone defensive player.”
As for McCarthy, Miller continues to be high on the Michigan quarterback — mocking him to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13, just like he did back in December. The Raiders have a new general manager (Tom Telesco), a new full-time head coach (Antonio Pierce) and in need of a long-term quarterback, with McCarthy potentially filling the void.
“(McCarthy) just turned 21 and has the requisite tools to be that player,” Miller writes. “He’s mobile and tough as nails, and scouts praise his arm strength and ability to make difficult throws in big situations. He has thrown only 44 touchdown passes in college to nine interceptions and compared to the other top quarterbacks in this class, he’s by far the least-experienced thrower. But his potential and ceiling have him worthy of a top-15 selection.”
More than a dozen Michigan players have declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, set for April 25-27 in Detroit. Many of them will earn invites to the NFL Scouting Combine later this month in Indianapolis, where they’ll have an opportunity to improve their draft stock.
