Michigan looks to set new NFL draft record: Players, preview, prediction

Jim Harbaugh was thinking about this weekend’s NFL draft nearly a year ago, when he told a group of reporters last summer that Michigan had a chance to beat Georgia.

Not just on the football field (it never happened, with UGA unable to reach a third straight College Football Playoff), but when it come to the draft itself.

You see, not only were the Bulldogs the big dog in college football having won back-to-back national titles, but the program set the seven-round draft record in 2022 with 15 players taken.

Michigan hopes to top that number this year and set a new draft record. A total of 18 players were invited to the annual NFL Scouting Combine this spring (list below), making the feat a real possibility.

“Excited for their futures and what they’re going to do,” first-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, who took over for the departed Harbaugh, said this week. “We still got guys working. Saw Blake (Corum) this morning; I see Roman (Wilson) out here working. The guys aren’t satisfied with potentially being drafted.”

Draft weekend schedule:

■ Thursday — Round 1, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/NFL Network)

■ Friday — Rounds 2-3, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/NFL Network)

■ Saturday — Rounds 4-7, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/NFL Network)

Looking to head downtown to take in the draft live? Read MLive’s A-to-Z guide.

A complete list Michigan’s 22 draft-eligible players:

• QB J.J. McCarthy

• RB Blake Corum

• WR Cornelius Johnson

• WR Roman Wilson

• WR Zach Peterson

• TE AJ Barner

• OL Karsen Barnhart

• OL LaDarius Henderson

• OL Trente Jones

• OL Trevor Keegan

• OL Drake Nugent

• OL Zak Zinter

• DL Jaylen Harrell

• DL Kris Jenkins

• DL Braiden McGregor

• DL Cam Goode

• LB Michael Barrett

• LB Junior Colson

• DB Mike Sainristil

• DB Josh Wallace

• DB German Green

• K James Turner

HOW SOON WILL J.J. MCCARTHY GO?

That’s the No. 1 question facing the Michigan contingent, and one of the overriding storylines of Thursday’s first round. While Caleb Williams is the consensus top pick to the Chicago Bears, and Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are expected to follow in some order with the second and third picks, J.J. McCarthy has steadily risen up draft boards in recent months. He went from a fringe first-round prospect when he declared back in January to a top-15 pick quickly. And recent mock drafts all believe McCarthy remains a priority target for the Minnesota Vikings (No. 11) to trade up and take him inside the top 10, maybe even at No. 4.

At 6-foot-2 and 219 pounds, McCarthy possesses the skillset and athletic traits of a franchise quarterback. He can make every throw, fit the football into tight windows and win, evident by his 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan. But critics say he hasn’t shown enough to warrant a high pick, with the Wolverines electing to run the football nearly 60 percent of the time. His passing volume (2,991 yards, 22 TDs) was nowhere near the top in college football, making him an unknown when it comes to having to carry an offense.

More: There’s a consensus landing spot for J.J. McCarthy in this year’s NFL draft

JIM HARBAUGH’S IMPACT ON THE DRAFT

Before, Jim Harbaugh could call up an NFL team and vouch for a player who once played on his roster. Now he’s the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, who possess the No. 5 pick, and has an opportunity to help influence where his former players wind up going. There’s plenty of speculation out there that the Chargers could look to trade out of their pick to acquire additional draft capital, potentially paving the way for a team to slide up and take McCarthy, the former Michigan quarterback.

And then there’s the real possibility that Harbaugh’s Chargers wind up drafting a Michigan player in later rounds. With a staff comprised of several former Michigan assistants, no one in the NFL has more intimate knowledge of the Wolverines. The Chargers even went out and signed former Michigan fullback Ben Mason, a reminder that if Harbaugh likes you and thinks you can help him win, he’ll go out of his way to bring you aboard.

UNDER-THE-RADAR SURPRISES

While McCarthy is the only sure-fire first-round pick of the bunch, Michigan has several players being talked about as under-the-radar surprises. Junior Colson ranks as one of the best inside linebackers available in this draft, making him an early-Day 2 prospect, while defensive back Mike Sainristil reportedly won over NFL teams during the draft lead-up. Expect both players to hear their name called on Friday.

Day 2 could wind up being a busy one for the Michigan crew, with offensive lineman Zak Zinter, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, receiver Roman Wilson and running back Blake Corum all live to be drafted. Zinter saw his stock drop after the season-ending leg injury, Jenkins remains an intriguing case, and Wilson had a strong Senior Bowl and combine.

Corum’s large draft window (Rounds 3-5) is the product of his position, injury history and 5-foot-8, 205-pound frame. We expect him to hear his name called (perhaps by the Chargers?), but running backs remain an unfortunate afterthought in the draft process.

CAN ALL SIX O-LINEMEN GET DRAFTED?

In a rare feat, Michigan has six offensive linemen eligible for this year’s draft. Four every-down starters in guards Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, tackle Karsen Barnhart and center Drake Nugent, and two others who rotated in as starters — LaDarius Henderson and Trente Jones.

Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to offensive line play in the NFL, and that should help boost the stock of Barnhart, Henderson and Jones. Four seem like a slam dunk. Five is a real possibility. Six seems like a stretch.

FINALLY, A PREDICTION …

Will Michigan break Georgia’s draft record?

Yes, but barely. I project many of the top names — J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Roman Wilson, Junior Colson, Mike Sainrisitl, Kris Jenkins — and five offensive linemen, tight end AJ Barner, receiver Cornelius Johnson, edge rushers Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor, and linebacker Michael Barrett. In fact, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say Barrett — the program recordholder in games played (64) and wins (52) — is the final Michigan player taken in the seventh round, breaking the Georgia record.

Look for several others to sign undrafted free-agent deals as soon as the draft concludes Saturday evening, putting a bow on what should be an historic weekend for the city of Detroit and Michigan football program.